Since launching in 2019, the Red Sea International Film Festival has rapidly become the Arab world’s premier stage for global cinema, a meeting ground for Hollywood heavyweights, regional storytellers, and rising talents from Asia and Africa. Powered by the Red Sea Film Foundation, the festival is part of a broader movement shaping Saudi Arabia into a world-class film hub, offering funding, industry programs, and a platform for bold, diverse voices. Now, the anticipated festival has confirmed its return for 2025, set to take place from December 4 to 13.
In 2024, the festival drew over 40,000 attendees and 7,000 accredited guests, screening 122 films from 85 countries and a staggering lineup that included 61 premieres. With 302 screenings in total, nearly half of them were world or international debuts.
And the venue? Nothing short of cinematic magic. Every great film festival has its signature setting—Cannes has the French Riviera, Venice has the canals and the Red Sea? It has Al-Balad, Jeddah’s UNESCO-listed old town. The festival’s headquarters, nestled among ancient coral-stone buildings, makes a breathtaking backdrop for the cinematic spectacle. The festival hub boasts five state-of-the-art cinemas and a grand auditorium that hosts everything from screenings to celebrity-packed In Conversation panels.
As for the attendees? Expect the crème de la créme of global cinema. Emily Blunt, Viola Davis, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Johnny Depp, Michelle Yeoh, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Vin Diesel were just a few of the icons who graced last year’s red carpet. With the festival’s growing reputation, the 2025 edition is sure to attract an equally dazzling guest list.
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