The Red Sea International Film Festival closed its fourth edition this evening with a special ceremony announcing the winners of the Yusr Awards and honoring prominent figures in world cinema, most notably global star Viola Davis and actress and producer Priyanka Chopra Jonas, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the film industry.

This year's edition featured spirited competition, with the Red Sea Competition jury chaired by acclaimed director Spike Lee, who selected winners from among 16 feature films in the official competition themed "Home." The lineup also included standout screenings in the "New Saudi/New Cinema," "Arabic Shorts" and "Shorts" programs, bringing the total number of competing categories to 14.

Key achievements and figures

  • 122 films screened from 85 countries.
  • 46 world premieres, 15 international premieres and 53 regional premieres for the Middle East and North Africa.
  • A record more than 30,000 tickets sold, making the festival one of the region's biggest film events.
  • 6,773 guests hosted, including filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts from around the world.

Words from festival leadership

Jomana Al-Rashid, chair of the Red Sea Film Foundation, highlighted the great success of the fourth edition, driven by exceptional film screenings and fruitful partnerships signed at the Red Sea Souk. She said the festival is steadily advancing toward strengthening the future of the region's film industry.

Shivani Pandya Malhotra, the foundation's managing director, expressed pride in making the festival a leading destination for filmmakers, noting that this edition featured premieres of standout films from around the world, further cementing the festival's standing as a new home celebrating cinematic creativity.

Mohammed Al-Asiri, the festival's acting CEO, pointed to the importance of the initiatives and partnerships launched during the edition, affirming the festival's commitment to elevating local and regional cinematic voices.