The Red Sea Film Festival reveals the first features of its fifth session

 The Red Sea International Film Festival revealed the first features of its film program for its fifth and anticipated session, unveiling the “New Saudi Cinema” program. For Short Films, which offers a variety of distinctive short films by an elite group of directing, acting and production talents from all over the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These films will be shown within the festival’s program, alongside a group of regional and international cinematic screenings.

 

The “New Saudi Cinema” program highlights This year’s short films shed light on the thriving world of Saudi cinema through 21 films among the best productions of the year in the Kingdom, which are distinguished by their diversity in terms of the topics they address and their cinematic styles, as they include short narrative films, documentaries, and animation.

This program embodies the creativity, energy and ambition of talents. Saudi Arabia, which operates in the cinema sector in the Kingdom, received more than 200 applications from filmmakers this year, providing them with a unique platform to communicate with new audiences of cinema lovers, and at the same time highlighting the growing presence of Saudi cinema on the international scene.

The program offers a diverse and selected group of the best cinematic productions that tell the story of Authentic Saudi stories that reflect the ancient cultural identity and the richness of the Saudi heritage in contemporary society. These films explore many rich themes, shedding light on a number of important events affecting our region and our world today.

List of selected films:

"Esk"

Director: Khaled Nadershah

The heroine of the story "Dream" The burden of caring for her family, despite the grief that weighs on her over the loss of her father, makes her suffer deep pain and wish to escape from her dark reality. Shaddad

 

tells the story of a son who is sad about the loss of his father, but he manages to relive their beautiful moments and their special parental relationship when they recover his father’s precious bicycle and ride it.

"Mothers cry Also "

 

Directed by: Ramas Al-Hazmi

 

Laila, a new mother living in Florence, suffers from postpartum depression. She is overcome by a feeling of deadly loneliness in her apartment while her husband wanders around the city, leaving her lost between the task of taking care of her child and the possibility of losing herself.

"Al-Hindool"

 

Directed by: Mamdouh Salem

 

loses "Alaa" His father was born at a young age, and his innocence and longing for his father pushed him to discover love and draw strength from faith and hope.

"The Keeper of History"

Directed by: Ali Al-Sameen

In the National Museum, "The Guardian of History"

Directed by: Ali Al-Sameen

In the National Museum, "The Head of History" lion" From an artifact to a living icon linking the past to the future, the museum guard finds himself facing a gang trying to steal it, in a chase that reveals that heritage is a force that protects identity and keeps it present in the present.

"Work Bag"

Directed by: Pioneers Khaled

The story revolves around a young man who struggles to work, and finds himself chasing his bag that flies in the atmosphere of the city of Riyadh. In this adventure, he discovers the beauty of his city and how to restore balance to his life.

"Dynamo “The Market”

Directed by: Ali Baqir Al-Abdullah

A documentary film that revolves around a day in the life of “Bu Wahid” After his retirement, he devoted his life to working in the forest market, and he is exposed to funny and unexpected situations because of his social nature and his distinctive sense of humor. His diary and the unique relationship he has with his environment.

"Sharshoura"

Directed by: Ahmed Al-Nasr

He confronts "Musa" While working as a Sharshoura car driver, existential questions and personal challenges confronted him since childhood, until he discovered his strange ability to communicate with a hidden world.

"The Cry of an Ant"

Directed by: Loujain Salam

A melodrama type film that explores… Topics of freedom, self-identity, and the complexities of family ties in contemporary Saudi society. Its events revolve around “visions” Who leaves her family home in search of independence, only to find herself immersed in that feeling.

"The Voice of the Tenth"

Directed by: Zaki Al-Abdullah

The events of the film revolve around a boy who suffers from hearing loss, and carries a hearing aid. The malfunction that he is unable to repair due to the stifling crowding around the city during the passage of the Ashura procession, which forced him to use a malfunctioning loudspeaker to be able to pass through the large crowds, driven by his human need to find belonging and meaning.

"The Fish “The Goldfish”

Directed by: Maria Saim Al-Dahar

A fisherman from Jeddah sets off on an adventure to catch a huge goldfish, but his journey takes an unexpected turn as he faces many challenges that drag him toward… The Ocean.

"The Scene"

Directed by: Our Shirts

It tells the story of the "Youssef Khalil" family. Who remained stuck under the rubble of their building, which was bombed for three consecutive days in Gaza.

"Anonymous"

Directed by: Ibrahim Al-Bukairi

Its events revolve around a young man who lives in Taif and works in the delivery service in a restaurant so that he can Paying off his late father’s debts.

"Vague"

Director: Muhannad Al-Zahrani

A short film that dives deep into the mind of a troubled man, where reality intersects with illusion and the truth remains trapped. Mystery.

"Antithesis"

Directed by: Abdel Karim Bawazir

A philosophical film that reveals the character of "Ali" Through his daily decisions, good or bad, highlighting the effects they have on his life.

"Midnight Meal"

Director: Abdulmalik Bukhari

The events of this short film that combines storytelling and animation revolve around The three-dimensional minute, about a lonely man who embarks on a strange and comedic journey to discover the truth about the intense desires that possess him in the middle of the night.

"Wajum"

A psychological-visual film that captures the moment of internal collapse under the pressure of expectations and loss of identity. It leaves the viewer stuck between the question and silence.

Directed by: Maan Al-Sayari

"The First Day of Condolences"

Directed by: Nawaf Al-Hoshan

On the first day of condolences, the father returns to his former home, He confronts his ex-wife and his adult children to uncover the truth about his child’s death.

"Serial Writer"

Directed by: Islam Shaker and Khaled Abdel Fattah

An experimental collaborative film written by 76 people who had never met, but each of whom added Writing it to those who came before him without having any pre-planned story. This film is considered a cinematic exercise in relinquishing control over writing the text.

"The Man Who Stumbled Over His Words"

Director: Mubarak Al-Zawbaa

A famous novelist searches for a cure for his inability to write, but this creative struggle quickly What turns into a deeper crisis related to memory, identity, and time itself.