'Norah', the first Saudi feature film shot entirely in AlUla with an all-Saudi cast and over 40% Saudi crew, is among the films selected to be screened at the festival.
The Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) has selected five films backed by the Red Sea Film Foundation to compete in its 72nd edition, running from August 8-25.
The films include Behind the Mountains, Norah, To a Land Unknown, Who Do I Belong To and Animale.
Behind the Mountains, a Tunisian film written and directed by Mohamed Ben Attia, received both production and post-production support from the Red Sea Fund in 2021 and 2022. The film tells the story of Rafik and his son as they embark on a journey to showcase the boy’s extraordinary ability to fly. Ben Attia is also an instructor at the Red Sea Lodge.
Norah, a Saudi film directed by Tawfik Alzaidi, also supported by the Red Sea Fund, recently premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, making history as the first Saudi film to be included in the festival’s official lineup. The film, shot entirely in the historic city of AlUla, received a Special Mention from the Cannes jury. Notably, 40% of the film crew were Saudis, highlighting the growing local talent in the Saudi film industry.
To a Land Unknown, directed by Danish-Palestinian filmmaker Mahdi Fleifel, follows two immigrants in Athens as they struggle to find a way out. Meanwhile, Tunisian-American director Meryam Joobeur’s Who Do I Belong To explores themes of conflict, family, and identity through the story of Aicha, a Tunisian mother who is shocked by the unexpected return of her son from fighting with the Islamic State in Syria.
