The winning projects include two works-in-progress, and seven projects in development—reinforcing the Souk's dedication to nurturing cinematic brilliance and championing the next generation of storytellers.
The Red Sea Souk has announced the winners of its Project Market during the Souk Awards Ceremony. The remarkable projects, helmed by visionary directors from the Arab world, Africa, and Asia, were awarded various cash prizes and in-kind support.
Jury members picked nine standout projects from a curated selection of 31 feature films and seven series. The winning projects include two works-in-progress, and seven projects in development—reinforcing the Souk’s dedication to nurturing cinematic brilliance and championing the next generation of storytellers.
The jury for the projects in development category comprised producers Elisa Fernanda Pirir (STÆR), Georges Schoucair (Abbout Productions), and Louise Bellicaud (In Vivo Films). Twenty-four projects in development by filmmakers from Africa, the Arab world and Asia were presented to an industry audience during the Souk. This included the 12 projects selected for this year’s Red Sea Lodge program, which have been developed through intensive workshops in partnership with the Torino Film Lab.
The Work in Progress jury included filmmaker and cinematographer Martika Ramirez Escobar, Christophe Leparc, Managing Director of Quinzaine des Cinéastes and Head of Cinemed, Mediterranean Film Festival, and director and screenwriter Fyzal Boulifa. Producer Diego Ramírez Schrempp, Jennifer Chen, Head of Channel Zero Studios, and Nadia Tabbara, screenwriter and creativity coach formed the Serieslab jury.
Commenting on the winning entries, Shivani Pandya Malhotra, Managing Director of the Red Sea Film Foundation, said: “This year’s Red Sea Souk winners reflect the incredible talent and creativity emerging from Saudi Arabia, Arab world, Africa, and Asia. These regions hold immense storytelling power, and through initiatives like the Souk, we’re proud to support these voices, offering them a platform to flourish. Congratulations to all the winners—your success is a testament to the vibrant future of cinema in these underserved regions.”
Director of the Red Sea Souk Holly Daniel, added: “This edition of the Souk Project market had a record number of meeting requests for the projects in selection which reflects the high calibre and potential of the teams taking part. We thank all our award partners for their support of the Souk and the amazing projects that they continue to champion.”
