Fifteen short films light up the Red Sea Film Festival screen

The Red Sea International Film Festival has revealed the list of Arab short films participating in its fourth edition, scheduled to be held in Jeddah from December 5 to 14.

Red Sea Film Festival Unveils Arab Short Film Lineup The competition includes 15 short films by young and prominent talents from various Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia.

These films reflect the diversity of stories and talent in the region, and give creatives a chance to shine on the international stage.

A platform to showcase Arab talents

The Arab Short Film Competition at the Red Sea International Film Festival represents a golden opportunity for emerging and established regional talents to showcase their work to a global audience and a select group of film industry experts.

The platform aims to promote the diversity of Arab cinema and highlight unique stories from the region. Antoine Khalife, Director of the Arab and Classic Cinema Program, commented on the importance of this initiative, saying that storytelling is an effective way to translate rich human experiences, noting that the films presented in this program focus on themes such as identity, memory and belonging.

Featured films The list includes a variety of films that carry deep human stories. Among these works are:

Karim Rahbani’s “The Last One” tells the story of Tawfiq, a man in his 80s, who faces a midlife crisis when his neighbor visits him by mistake, renewing his passion for life. Hadi Shatat’s “Zahra” tells the story of a garment factory worker who faces painful realities in the final days of her pregnancy due to her need for money.

In “Fazer” by Rani Nasr, Essam flees to the valley after a confrontation with the mayor who shot his cat, and struggles with his anger with the help of his friend Raafat. While “Namshy?” by Assaf Al-Rousan tells the story of Imad, who loses his sense of purpose after the death of his father.

“Land of God” by Imad Benomar deals with the complexities of delivering coffins to two families when Hassan, the employee, makes a dramatic mistake in distributing the bodies. In “Queen” by Maram Taiba, a Saudi girl embarks on a magical adventure to recover her grandmother’s lost crown and discover the true meaning of being a queen.

In “Mira, Mira, Mira” by Khaled Zidane, Saeed loses his ability to speak in a neighborhood threatened with demolition in Jeddah and uncovers a mysterious truth. Meanwhile, “Children of Barzakh” by Ahmed Khattab depicts Nour’s journey in Gaza, which is suffering from the horrors of war.

“In Three Darknesses” by director Houssem Selouli highlights a young Tunisian man facing the challenges of immigration, while “African Good Session” by director Ibrahim Mersal deals with an embarrassing situation that Mona faces during a dinner with her friend’s family.

“Sheikha” depicts Faten’s life in Morocco as she chooses between her family’s traditions and art or seeking a more stable life, while “Shams” by director Nasser Al-Qattan tells the story of a child facing a fateful decision after the death of his father.

In “The Sign” by Anis Ben Dali, a young man becomes the talk of the town after stopping at a traffic light and his mysterious silence. “Saint Rose” tells the story of an unhappy housewife trying to escape her reality, while “The Village” by Anis Ben Dali follows the story of Souleiman, a child suffering from isolation in a remote village after the death of his father.