Red Sea Market reveals judging panels and prizes worth two million riyals
In a move that reinforces Saudi Arabia’s position as a global destination for the film industry, the Red Sea International Film Festival details of the jury panels for the Red Sea Market’s “Project Market,” as part of its preparations to launch its fifth edition scheduled for December 4-13, 2025. This announcement confirms the festival’s commitment to supporting cinematic talent and providing a vital platform for co-production and financing in the region.
Red Sea Market: The beating heart of the film industry
The Red Sea Market serves as the festival's commercial and industrial arm, and since its inception in Historic Jeddah, it has successfully established itself as a vital link between filmmakers in the Arab world, Africa, and Asia and their international counterparts. The market's importance extends beyond simply being a platform for exhibitions; it acts as an incubator for creative ideas, providing genuine opportunities for networking and funding, thus contributing to the advancement of film production in a region experiencing unprecedented cultural dynamism in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
Details of the awards and judging panels for 2025
The festival announced that the total value of the prize money allocated this year exceeds two million Saudi riyals , which will be contested by selected projects across 28 awards covering various stages of filmmaking. Specialized judging panels, comprised of leading experts, will evaluate the works and select the winners.
Projects under development judging panel:
- Abdul Rahman Khoja: Executive producer and strategic advisor, holding the position of Head of Distribution at "Sila" Studios.
- Elliott Khayat: A producer at Who Ai Core, working on producing notable works such as Santosh and Hola Frida.
- Maisky Torresia: Producer and co-founder of "Balari Films", winner of the Golden Leopard Award at the Locarno Film Festival.
Judging Committee for Works in Progress:
- Mahdi Fleifel: A Palestinian director who has won more than 30 international awards, he returns to the festival as a jury member after having previously benefited from market support.
- Rungano Nyoni: A Zambian-Welsh director, the first female director to win the BIFFA Award for Best Director for two consecutive films.
- Paolo Bertolin: Artistic Director of the New Zealand Film Festival and Advisor to the Venice Film Festival.
The judging panel for the TV series workshop:
- David Davoli: Head of International Business at Anonymous Content, he helped secure huge funding for global television projects.
- Hanaa Al-Omair: A Saudi writer, director, and chairperson of the Cinema Association, she is preparing to screen her feature film "Hell of the Passersby".
- Jehane Noujaim: Producer, director, and member of the Academy Awards, she has a rich portfolio of documentary and cinematic works.
International partnerships and sustainable impact
In addition to the jury awards presented by the Red Sea Fund, the market also features awards from prominent international partners, including Arab Radio and Television Network (ART), the Arab Cinema Center, the National Center for Cinema and Moving Image (CNC), MBC Group through Shift Studios, Ithra, and others. These partnerships reflect growing international confidence in the Saudi market as a new regional hub.
Shivani Pandya Malhotra emphasized that the market's awards play a pivotal role in nurturing talent, citing director Mehdi Fleifel's career as an example of the market's success stories. For his part, Faisal Baltayour , the festival's CEO, noted that these awards promote integration across the film's lifecycle, from development to distribution, thus solidifying the institution's role as a catalyst for impactful projects.
It is worth mentioning that the Market Awards ceremony will be held on December 10, 2025, to be a culmination of the efforts of creators and a celebration of the future of cinema in the region.
