At the end of the third session of the “Red Sea International Film Festival”, the film industry celebrated its masterpieces, the festival brought together and honored many talented films, directors and actors from different parts of the world. Famous works.

In addition to the jury for the “Red Sea Short Film Competition” chaired by Hana Al-Omeir, this year’s jury for the “Red Sea Film Competition” was chaired by Baz Luhrmann. 14 categories were decided for winners. The competition included 17 feature films and 23 short films.

The competition won the Al-Sharq Award for Best Documentary for “Daughters of Olfat”, a prize worth US$10,000, and Noor Al-Qadra won the “Chopart” Award for Best Rising Talent. The final award ceremony, and “Hopeless” directed by South Korea’s Kim Sang Hoon won the audience prize of $50,000 for “Al-Ula”, while “Nowra” won the $50,000 Saudi Best Film Award. .

At the Red Sea Short Film Competition, “A Suitcase” by directors Saman Hossainpour and Ako Karimi won the silver “Al Yusr” award worth $12,500, while “You Remember” by director Dalia Nemlesh won the gold “Al Yusr” award worth $25,000.

Baloji’s “A Bad Omen” won Best Cinematography, Saleh Bakri won Best Actor for “The Professor” and Mona Hawa won Best Actress for “God Willing, a boy”. “

The award for best screenplay went to “Above the Shrine,” directed by Karim Ben Saleh and Jamal Belmahi, and is worth $10,000. Shokir Golikov won the $10,000 best director award for “Sunday,” and Farah Al-Nabulsi won the $10,000 jury prize for “The Professor.”

The Silver “Al Yusr” Award for Feature Film went to director Darsem Singh Thandwar’s “Dear Jassi” worth $30,000, while the Golden “Al Yusr” Award for Best Feature Film went to director Jarrar Khan’s “In The Flames”. $100,000.

The Al Yusr Awards are considered one of the region’s largest awards for emerging and established voices in the fields of narrative, documentary and animation. For talent from Saudi Arabia, Arab countries, Asia and Africa, it puts them on the world cinema map, featuring the best international talent in the film industry, in front of the international cinema community.

Criteria for success

The jury of the Red Sea Short Film Competition was headed by Saudi writer and director Hana Al-Omair, French-Moroccan actor Asad Bou Ab and Turkish-German film director, screenwriter and producer Fatih Akin.

Hana Al-Omair told Asharq Al-Awsad, “The short films that participated in the festival in its third session were strong overall, and the selections were international and local. This issue was expected during the current session, and this is what happened.”

Al-Omair explained that films from Asia, Africa and the Arab world differed in their choice of strong themes in addition to their artistic level and diversity, noting that cinema’s elite was seen as films from Asia, Africa and the Arab countries participated in addition to the Saudi films. In this edition of the festival, and the quality of difference and surprise is one of the most important standards. Created by a jury to select participating films and award-winning films.

to honor

At the closing ceremony, the movie “Ferrari” by director Michael Mann, one of the cinema projects supported by the Red Sea Fund, was screened, and Hollywood actor and Oscar winner Nicholas was awarded the “Al Usr” Golden Honorary Award. Cage, in recognition of his outstanding talents and contribution to the film industry. The award was also presented by top performer Abdullah Al-Satan, actress Diane Kruger and Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh at the ceremony’s opening ceremony. “Dream Scenario,” a horror comedy directed by Christopher Broglie and starring Nicolas Cage, is scheduled to be shown at the end of the festival on Saturday, December 9.

Speaking on the occasion, Jumana Al-Rasheed, President of the Red Sea Film Foundation, said: “Over the past eight days, we have welcomed guests from all over the world to Jeddah and celebrated together a vibrant global film community. Our mission behind it is to build bridges between cultures and forge new relationships by hosting more than 125 films from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Rwanda, Armenia, Malaysia, Pakistan, New Zealand, France, India, Thailand and more. Other countries, in addition… 348 submitted projects in the Red Sea market projects and 44 ongoing projects from more than 26 countries.

He added: “Indeed, we are proud to have established a place for ideas and businesses to meet, share inspiration and act as inspiration for the year ahead.”

For his part, Mohammed Al Turki, CEO of Red Sea Film Foundation, said: “Today at the closing ceremony of this year’s festival we are celebrating many successes together, including hosting the film’s Middle East premiere with Red’s support. Michael Mann for Ocean Finance – Ferrari – Creative Director, in addition to our tribute to one of Hollywood’s brightest stars; Creative actor Nicolas Cage will celebrate the contestants of the Red Sea Long and Short Film Competition together and present “Al Yusr” awards to the winners and end this unique competition on an unprecedented high.

A different course

Artist Tafar Abdeen Asharq told Al-Awsad: “The third session of the festival was distinguished by the high quality of films, organization, workshops and dialogue sessions. All of these enhanced the session and differentiated it from the previous two sessions. It proves that what is to come is more beautiful and better.”

About her experience in the movie “To My Son”, she said: “I enjoyed the experience of participating with Saudi stars who shined in the film and excelled in their performances, and God willing, there will be many Saudi participation in future works. Aba city where most of the scenes were shot, the most beautiful places where he met her. describes that.

Artist Elham Shaheen told Asharq Al-Awsad, “International film festivals provide an opportunity to learn about different cultures and watch different films from all over the world, thereby understanding people and learning about their societies, culture, economy and politics. .”

Elham Shaheen linked the degree of urbanization of countries to the value and importance of the arts, not only in cinema but also in theatre, television, music, plastic arts, song and writing.

Cooperation and exchange of experience

Sawson Badr, an Egyptian artist, saw the festival as an addition to international and Arab film festivals, and he told Asharq Al-Awsad: “This festival adds a lot to other festivals, and is interested in developing a common form and language of cultures. Dialogue with others and accepting them, its ideas are our Arab It is the most important, though different from ideas.” How we think about it, use it to our advantage, and exclude from it what does not agree with us. Principles and Culture.”

Badr added that any Arab cooperation is a plus for the entire Arab region because he believes a common language is a great asset that should be used as a means of technologically transformative soft power. Art works are capable of conveying messages on a large scale, and raising issues in collective Arabic works is a very powerful way to bring the Arabic voice to the world in an interesting and purposeful way.