A Matter of Life and Death (2025 film)

A Matter of Life and Death
Directed by	Anas Ba-Tahaf
Written by	Sarah Taibah
Produced by	Anas Ba-Tahaf Sara Alghabra Gianluca Chakra Mohamed Hefzzy Ahmed Teama
Starring	Yagoub Alfarhan Sarah Taibah
Cinematography	Shawn Pavlin
Edited by	Anas Ba-Tahaf Hisham Fadel
Music by	Firas Abou Fakher
Production companies	Front Row Productions Film Clinic Rotana Studios Arabia Pictures Group
Distributed by	Front Row Filmed Entertainment
Release date	2025 (2025)
Running time	115 minutes

A Matter of Life and Death is a 2025 Saudi Arabian romantic comedy film directed by Anas Ba-Tahaf and starring Yaqoub Alfarhan and Sarah Taibah, who also wrote its script. ^[1] It premiered at the 2025 Red Sea International Film Festival. ^[2]

Production

The film was announced in December 2024, which included an announcement of its production studios, its director and cast, and Front Row Filmed Entertainment as responsible for its Middle East and North Africa distribution and global sales. ^{[3] [4]} Principal photography began in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in January 2025. ^{[5] [6]}

Critical reception

Red Sea Film Festival Foundation CEO Faisal Baltyuor stated that the film, "represents the growing strength of Saudi women in cinema and the emergence of romance as a dynamic new genre in the Kingdom." ^[7]

Deadline called A Matter of Life and Death "one of the quirkiest local romantic comedies to come out of Saudi Arabia since the lifting of its 35-year cinema ban in 2017." ^[8]

References

1. "Saudi film 'A Matter of Life and Death' premieres at the Red Sea International Film Festival". Arab News PK. 2025-12-09. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
2. "Saudi film 'A Matter of Life and Death' premieres at the Red Sea International Film Festival". Arab News PK. 2025-12-09. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
3. Goodfellow, Melanie (2024-12-07). "Film Clinic, Front Row, Arabia Pictures & Rotana Team On Jeddah-Set Rom-Com 'A Matter Of Life And Death' With Sarah Taibah & Yaqoub Alfarhan". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
4. "New Saudi Romcom to Star Sarah Taibah & Yaqoub Alfarhan". CairoScene. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
5. Szalai, Georg (2024-12-07). "Saudi Rom-Com 'A Matter of Life and Death,' Starring and Written by Sarah Taibah, Unveiled at Jeddah Fest". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
6. Rosser, Michael. "Saudi rom-com 'A Matter Of Life And Death' readies January shoot". Screen. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
7. "Saudi film 'A Matter of Life and Death' premieres at the Red Sea International Film Festival". Arab News PK. 2025-12-09. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
8. Goodfellow, Melanie (2025-12-07). "'A Matter Of Life & Death' Teaser: Sarah Taibah & Yaqoub Alfarhan Topline Quirky Saudi Romantic Comedy – Red Sea". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-12-23.