Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Minister of Culture Prince Badr Bin Abdullah Bin Farhan announced on Thursday the launch of the International Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah. The first edition of the festival, which will be held on the historic Red Sea coast in 2020, will focus on showcasing the growing Saudi creativity, new Arab film works, and the latest styles and trends in international cinema.

The festival will be a landmark initiative in boosting the momentum of emerging local cinema and re-establishing it after decades of stagnation through raising annual production of Saudi films and stimulating the distribution market and local shows. The festival aims to provide a solid foundation for the film industry that enhances the vitality of society and the diversity of the local economy in accordance with the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

The festival will coincide with creation of the Red Sea Film Facility as an incubator for local film projects that works throughout the year in accordance with the programs of accommodation and food for the directors and producers, to support their modern film projects through sponsorship at all stages of development, financing, production and distribution in accordance with the highest international standards.

The festival is a non-profit initiative of the Red Sea Film Festival Foundation, a modern institution that has been registered in accordance with Saudi regulations. The foundation aims to support the local film sector by enriching local film content and expanding the industry into international horizons. Minister of Culture Prince Badr, heads the Foundation’s board of trustees, while the renowned director and producer Mahmoud Sabbagh is its CEO.