The lineup features 24 projects currently in development, eight works in progress and eight episodic series.
The Red Sea International Film Festival (Red Sea IFF) has announced the 40 feature film and series projects selected for this year’s Red Sea Souk Project Market — the festival’s industry platform dedicated to supporting international co-productions and connecting new creative talent with global industry partners.
Among the selected works, 24 projects are currently in development or production, including 12 that have been developed through the Red Sea Labs Feature Film Programme in partnership with Torino Film Lab and sponsored by Film AlUla. The remaining 12 projects will benefit from pitch mentoring sessions led by producer Anna Katchko, script consultant David Pope, and sales agent Gabor Greiner. The lineup also includes eight feature-length works-in-progress and eight episodic projects developed through the Red Sea Labs – SeriesLab in collaboration with Film Independent.
Reflecting the festival’s expanding international reach, this year’s submissions included entries from across Asia for the first time, resulting in a significant regional presence with 35% of selected projects originating from the continent. Notably, 18 of the chosen filmmakers are presenting their debut features, while over 42% of all selected projects are directed by women. Returning alumni such as Arvin Belarmino, Wissam Charaf, and Shokir Kholikov — who previously screened films at the festival — underscore the Souk’s ongoing commitment to nurturing filmmakers’ careers over time.
The 2025 edition received a 1,900 submissions across the Souk and Labs from filmmakers across the Arab world, Asia and Africa, marking continued growth in the festival’s impact and outreach.
Holly Daniel, Red Sea Souk Director, said: “Our Souk Project Market is a vital part of the Red Sea Film Foundation’s ecosystem – acting as a vibrant hub for new voices to collaborate on innovative projects and ideas. Celebrating a five year arc of this programme also means we are welcoming back previous alumni with new work, which is a mark of the growing legacy of the Souk. This year’s selection of titles is diverse, creative and powerful and provide huge opportunities for development, and we’re looking forward to introducing them to new potential industry partners at the fifth edition of the Festival in December.”
All selected projects will compete for the Red Sea Souk Awards, presented by the Red Sea Fund in collaboration with a number of award partners to be announced soon. These awards will provide vital financial and developmental support for projects at various stages, from development and production to post-production, alongside targeted assistance for initiatives emerging from the Lodge and SeriesLab programmes.
The lineup includes promising new works such as A Noble Death by Dalia Baeshen, Cold Ashes Can Cause Forest Fires by Ashmita Guha Neogi, Playhouse by Maha Haj, Infidels by Eli Jean Tahchi and Salma and the Moon and the Stars by Maram Taibah, among others, alongside a dynamic selection of works-in-progress and series developed through the Souk’s growing creative ecosystem.
