المملكة: "Red Sea Cinema" Reveals two global shows that reflect the pulse of humanity
Reveal The Red Sea International Film Festival, during its press conference today, announced the presentation of two special screenings of two prominent cinematic works from Spain and Tunisia, each of which was chosen for the profound impact it had on the global cinema scene in 2025.
The two films “Sarat” by the Spanish-French director Olivier Lax and “VoiceHind Rajab” directed by TunisianKawthar Ben Haniyeh for the first time in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as part of the activities of the fifth session of the festival, scheduled to be held from the fourth to the thirteenth of December in the heart of the country, historic Jeddah.
Humanitarian Stories
In her talk about the joint Tunisian-French film “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” director Kawthar Ben Haniyeh reformulated one of the most painful human stories in recent years, presenting a work that brilliantly blends Documentary and drama in an innovative visual format, highlighting the last hours of the life of the six-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab, who found herself trapped inside a car in Gaza after all her family members were killed during the Israeli bombing in January 2024.
During those tragic hours, the child remained in contact with Red Crescent volunteers who tried to cross a maze of military procedures to reach her, but their attempts failed, and her story turned into a symbol. For the slaughtered innocence in the midst of the silence of the world.
A loud cry
Through this work that transcends the boundaries of traditional cinema, Ben Hania releases a loud human cry, making her film an artistic testimony and a moral stance at the same time, as the camera moves the conscience more than it tells the story. The film, as the director describes it, is not only about “India,” but about all the children who disappear in the noise of war and whose voices the world does not hear.
As for the Spanish-French film “Sarat,” it comes as a captivating visual experience overflowing with poetry and contemplation, and confirms the status of its director Oliver Lax as one of the most prominent cinematic voices in Europe today. The film, which won the Jury Prize at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and represents Spain in the Oscar race, borrows its title from the spiritual concept “Al-Sirat,” which symbolizes the precise bridge between heaven and hell, to present an epic human journey about loss and salvation.
Film Events
The events of the film revolve around a father who takes his son on an arduous journey to search for his missing daughter amid the world of traveling parties in Morocco, within the framework of… Mixes reality and myth. As the apocalypse unfolds outside the camera, the lens delves into the details of the characters’ internal conflict, where sadness mixes with astonishment, silence with noise, and hope with despair.
The film, which stars Sergi Lopez alongside a cast of non-professional actors, presents an exceptional audio-visual experience that redefines the relationship between man and the world around him, and confirms that cinema is still capable of touching the soul and reviving major questions.
Power Cinema
While Faisal Baltoor, CEO of the Red Sea Cinema, expressed his pride in choosing these two works, saying: “The special screenings this year embody the essence of our message at the festival, as we give space to works that go beyond the boundaries of art to raise humanitarian issues that affect the global conscience. The film SawtHindRajab expresses the power of cinema in telling the truth and stirring the human conscience, while presenting a path to A captivating artistic vision that combines visual beauty and philosophical depth.”
Thus, the Red Sea International Film Festival continues to establish its presence as a global station that celebrates cinema that is biased toward humanity, and opens new windows on stories told from the heart, to reach all hearts.
Between “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” which screams from under the rubble, and “Sirat,” which crosses between light and shadows, the festival continues its journey in discovering the beauty within Pain, and confirmation that art is not only about viewing, but rather witnesses, reminds, and keeps the memory alive.
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