2023 Red Sea International Film Festival

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Red Sea International Film Festival
مهرجان البحر الأحمر السينمائي الدولي
Location Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Founded2019
Hosted by Red Sea Film Festival Foundation
Festival date30 November 2022 (2022-11-30)–9 December 2022 (2022-12-09)
LanguageArabic
English
Website RSFF
Red Sea International Film Festival

The 2023 Red Sea International Film Festival took place from November 30 to December 9, 2023, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and marked the third edition of the film festival. [1] [2] The Red Sea jury was headed by Baz Luhrmann; it selected 17 films from Asia, Africa, and the Arab world for competition. [3] In Flames, directed Zarrar Kahn, won the Golden Yusr for best feature film. [4]

Contents

In addition to screening films for competition, the film festival also hosted talks and discussions, galas and parties, and other events for the industry, most of which were held at the Ritz-Carlton. [5] [6]

Jury

Features

Shorts

Official selection

The festival lineup was announced on November 6, 2023. [7]

Red Sea International Film Festival: In Competition

TitleDirector(s)Production country
Inshallah a Boy Ahmjad Al Rashid Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, France, Qatar
Behind the Mountains Mohamed Ben Attia Tunisia, France, Belgium, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Qatar
Norah Tawfik Alzaidi Saudi Arabia
Backstage Afef Ben Mahmoud, Khalil Benkirane Morocco, Tunisia, Belgium, France, Qatar, Norway, Saudi Arabia
The Teacher Farah Nabulsi United Kingdom, Palestine, Qatar
DalmaHumaid Alsuwaidi United Arab Emirates
MandoobAli Kalthami Saudi Arabia
Six Feet OverKarim Bensalah Algeria, France
Dear Jassi Tarsem Singh Dhandwar India
In Flames Zarrar Kahn Pakistan, Canada
Wakhri Iram Parveen Bilal Pakistan, United States
SundayShokir Kholikov Uzbekistan
Tiger Stripes Amanda Nell Eu Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, France, Germany, Netherlands, Indonesia, Qatar
Roxana Parviz Shahbazi Iran
Omen Baloji Belgium, Netherlands, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Evil Does Not Exist Ryusuke Hamaguchi Japan

Special Screenings

TitleDirector(s)Production country
To My Son Dhaffer L'Abidine Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates
Jeanne du Barry Maïwenn France, Saudi Arabia

Red Sea International Film Festival: Arab Spectacular

TitleDirector(s)Production country
Four Daughters Kaouther Ben Hania France, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Tunisia
Hajjan Abu Bakr Shawky Saudi Arabia, Egypt
Khaled El Sheikh Between Two Fires, Art and PoliticsJamal Kutbi Saudi Arabia
Fever DreamFarus Godis Saudi Arabia
Three Nayla Al Khaja United Arab Emirates, Thailand
HWJNYasir Alyasiri Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates
Back to AlexandriaTamer Ruggli France, Switzerland, Egypt
NAGA Meshal Aljaser Saudi Arabia
Shamareekh Amr Salama Egypt
Yesterday After TomorrowAbdulghani Alsaigh Saudi Arabia
A Nose and Three EyesAmir Ramses Egypt, United Arab Emirates
I Am Al-IttihadHamza Tarzan Saudi Arabia

Awards

Award [8] [4] Winner
Golden Yusr Award—Best Feature Film In Flames, dir. Zarrar Kahn
Silver Yusr Award—Best Feature Film Dear Jassi , dir. Tarsem Singh
Film AlUla Audience Award—Best Film Hopeless, dir. Kim Chang-hoon
Film AlUla Audience Award—Best Saudi FilmNorah, dir. Tawfik Alzaidi
Best Documentary Four Daughters, dir. Kaouther Ben Hania
Chopard Rising Talent TrophyNour Alkhadra
Best Cinematic Contribution Omen, dir. Baloji
Best Actor Saleh Bakri in The Teacher
Best ActressMouna Hawa in Inshallah a Boy
Best ScreenplaySix Feet Over, written by Karim Bensalah and Jamal Belmahi
Best DirectorShokir Kholikov for Sunday
Jury Prize Farah Nabulsi for The Teacher
Red Sea Honorary Award Nicolas Cage
Golden Yusr—Best Short FilmSomewhere in Between, dir. Dahlia Nemlich
Silver Yusr—Best Short FilmSuitcase, dir. Saman Hosseinpuor and Ako Zandkarimi

References

  1. Bogatin, Joshua (2024-03-19). "Critic's Notebook: The 2023 Red Sea International Film Festival". Filmmaker Magazine. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
  2. 1 2 3 Lang, Robert (2023-12-07). "Red Sea Film Festival Red Carpet Photos: Halle Berry, Andrew Garfield, Gwyneth Paltrow, Nicolas Cage & Henry Golding at Closing Night Gala". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
  3. Dams, Tim. "Red Sea film festival unveils line-ups for Competition and Arab Spectacular strands". Screen. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
  4. 1 2 Pedersen, Erik (2023-12-07). "Red Sea Film Festival Awards: 'In Flames' Best Feature & Two Wins For 'The Teacher' – Full List". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
  5. "A Look Back At The 2023 Edition Of The Red Sea Film Festival". A&E Magazine. 2023-12-24. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
  6. "Red Sea International Film Festival 2023 [RedSeaIFF23]". Doesn't Exist Magazine. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
  7. Szalai, Georg (2023-11-06). "Red Sea Film Fest Unveils Saudi Selection, Special Screenings, Competition Lineup". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
  8. Vlessing, Etan; Szalai, Georg (2023-12-07). "Red Sea Film Festival: Zarrar Kahn's 'In Flames' Wins Best Movie Award". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-12-20.