The 2025 edition of ‘New Saudi Cinema’ provides audiences with insight into topics such as cultural identity, ambition and the societal trends taking shape across KSA.
The Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) has revealed the first highlights of its fifth edition, unveiling the “New Saudi Cinema” short films programme. This curated selection celebrates a new wave of Saudi filmmaking, showcasing the work of emerging directors, actors and producers from across the Kingdom. The programme will screen alongside a wide array of regional and international films, reflecting the festival’s commitment to presenting diverse cinematic voices.
This year’s “New Saudi Cinema” programme highlights the rapidly evolving landscape of Saudi filmmaking with a lineup of 21 standout shorts spanning fiction, documentary and animation. Chosen from more than 200 submissions, these films exemplify the creativity, energy and ambition of Saudi talent, offering audiences an opportunity to engage with fresh narratives and perspectives while underscoring the country’s growing presence on the global film stage.
The selected films explore authentic Saudi stories that weave together cultural identity, heritage and contemporary life. They tackle a broad spectrum of themes, from personal and familial struggles to societal issues and current events shaping the region. Highlights include Abdul Karim Bawazir’s philosophical drama Antagonist, Zaki Alabdullah’s moving Ashura’s Voice, Abdulwahab Bin Shaddad’s Azur and Rwad Khaled’s Business Bag, which journeys through the streets of Riyadh. Other notable entries are Mamdouh Salem’s heartfelt The Cradle, Khaled Nadershah’s introspective ESC, and Nawaf Al Hoshan’s First Funeral Day, a poignant family drama.
The programme also features films like Meria Saimaldeher’s adventurous The Golden Fish, Ali Al-samin’s Guardian of History, and Ali Baqir Alabdullah’s documentary Market Dynamo, alongside experimental and psychologically driven works such as Midnight Snack, Mubham and Maan Alsiari’s Wajoom. Other shorts, including Moms Cry Too, The Man Who Stumbled by His Words, Sarih, Scream of an Ant, Serial Writer, Sharshura (The Hearse), The Scene and Unknown, offer intimate explorations of human emotion, resilience, and the complexities of modern Saudi life.
Through the “New Saudi Cinema” programme, RSIFF continues to champion the Kingdom’s dynamic filmmaking community, providing a platform for emerging voices and ensuring that Saudi stories resonate both locally and internationally.
