Prestigious speakers for In Conversation With strand and Souk Talents programme to include Andrew Garfield, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Michael Mann and Eva Longoria
A bevy of celebrated film stars and industry icons will lead the In Conversation With and Souk Talents strands at the Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF), running in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from December 5 to 14 2024. The fourth edition of the programme will welcome special guests from all over the world to share insights and have meaningful discussions about their practice, passions, and stories with fans, cinema lovers and industry executives. For the first time, the In Conversation With talks will take place at the brand new Cultural Square headquarters of the Red Sea Film Foundation in Al Balad.
The raft of speakers this year includes legendary filmmaker Michael Mann (Ferrari), Egyptian writer and director Mohamed Samy (Detention Letter) and Turkish stars Engin Altan Düzyatan (Diriliş: Ertuğrul) and Nurgül Yeşilçay (Magnificent Century: Kosem, The Edge of Heaven). Also joining the lineup are Indian Cinema megastars Ranbir Kapoor (Animal) and Kareena Kapoor Khan (Buckingham Murders) and award winning actor Eva Longoria (Only Murders In The Building), as well as this year’s Head of Jury Spike Lee (BlacKkKlansman). In the festival’s Souk Talents programme, aimed at up-and-coming creatives, on-screen star Andrew Garfield (The Social Network, tick, tick…BOOM!) will be delivering a talk. The diverse slate of cinematic luminaries join previously announced speakers Mona Zaki (Flight 404, Abserb: The Squadron) award-winning Egyptian actor, and Viola Davis (The Woman King, Fences), Academy Award winner and cofounder of JVL Media.
Commenting on this year’s lineup, Jomana Al Rashid, Chairwoman of the Red Sea Film Foundation, said: “This year’s In Conversation With and Souk Talent programs proudly showcase an extraordinary lineup of globally acclaimed speakers. These luminaries, whose exceptional careers span both sides of the camera, have profoundly inspired generations of audiences, storytellers, and cinephiles. It is an honor to provide a platform at our New Home of Film in Al Balad, where they can delve into their artistic journeys, share insights on their most cherished projects, and reveal the inspirations that have shaped their craft. We eagerly anticipate the expertise and stories this remarkable group will bring to the festival this December.”