JEDDAH: December 8 marked the closing ceremony of the Red Sea International Film Festival Round Two, which celebrated the storytellers and participants of the festival competitions who have pushed out of their comfort zones to share their stories with the world. stepped on.
Spanish actor Antonio Banderas, supermodel Naomi Campbell, Indian actors Hrithik Roshan, DJ Khaled, former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson and Hong Kong actor and filmmaker Jackie Chan were among famous faces to appear on the red carpet.
Chan, known for his acrobatic fighting style, said the night of the ceremony coincided with his 60th year in the film industry.
“I want to thank RSIFF for this – it’s where I can see so many good friends and new friends. Also, this year marks my 60 years in the film business, and I’m looking forward to celebrating it with people around the world.” want to share with friends.
The winner of the Young Rising Star Award was 33-year-old Sara Taibah, a Jeddah-born Saudi actress.
Taiba said: “I didn’t know I would be nominated, thank you Red Sea Film Festival. I feel wonderful and grateful to be honored in my country and city.
A Saudi film has won the second round of the Red Sea International Film Festival. (AN photo by Huda Bashata)
The Saudi-Kuwaiti production “How I Got There” is an action drama by Zeyad Al-Husseini, which won the Film Al-Ula Audience Award for Best Saudi Film.
Saudi filmmaker and producer of the winning film, Hamza Zamjoom, accepted the award on behalf of Al-Husseini.
The Film Al-Ula Audience Award for Best Film went to the Singapore-South Korean production “Ajumma”, directed by He Shuming.
The ceremony ended with a live performance by Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram. (AN photo by Huda Bashata)
Meanwhile, Red Sea Virtual Reality presents a selection of the latest pioneering VR storytelling and art projects from award-winning international artists and directors.
The strand was judged by London-based Egyptian documentary filmmaker May Abdullah, Bangladeshi artist Naeema Karim and Tribeca Film Festivals immersive curator Anna Brzezinska.
Brzezinska said: “It has been a real honor to be here at the Red Sea Film Festival to judge the virtual reality election. It is truly an amazing moment for this medium with an explosive approach to creative ideas. From the sprints, it was a real challenge to pick only two.
Silver User for Red Sea Virtual Reality went to “Euridice” by Celine Damon, while the winner of Gold User for Red Sea Virtual Reality was “From the Main Square”, a German film by Pedro Harares.
The Red Sea short competition was judged by filmmaker Joanna Hadjithomas, Saudi writer and director Shahad Amin and Nigerian actor Ozzie Agu.
The jury awarded two prizes to the Mongolian and French drama “Snow in September” by Lakhagvdulam Purev-Ochir.
The Silver User for Short Film went to Somalian director Muhammad Bashir Harawe’s “Will My Parents Come to See Me”. The Golden User for Short Film went to Jawahin Zenter’s Moroccan and French film “On My Father’s Grave”.
The Red Sea competition was led by Oliver Stone, President of this year’s jury.
The Silver User for Best Cinematic Achievement went to “Hanging Gardens”, a production from Iraq, Palestine, Egypt, the UK and Saudi Arabia.
The Silver User Award for Best Actor went to Adam Besa. The Silver for Best Actress went to Yusar Adila Bendimarad.
The Best Screen Award was won by Iran’s Reza Jamali for “Childless Village”.
The Race C Competition Jury Prize went to “Within the Sand”, a Saudi feature film telling the story of a young man making his way through the desert with the help of a wolf.
“The film is based on real events that happened in Saudi in the early 1900s. There is a responsibility to depict Saudi culture in the most appropriate way,” director Mohammed Alatavi told Arab News.
The Silver User Award for Best Director went to Lotfi Nathan for his film “Harka”.
The Golden User for Best Feature Film went to “Hanging Gardens” by Ahmed Yassin Al-Daradji.
The third edition of the festival will be held in Saudi Arabia next year. The ceremony ended with a live performance by Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram.
Although the RSIFF festivities and sessions have ended, visitors can still enjoy their weekend watching films from the festival and meeting red-carpet stars.