Twelve films have been curated for the 4th edition of the festival’s Short Film Competition, featuring stories from Ethiopia, Kenya, Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Malaysia, Bangladesh and Mauritius.
The Red Sea International Film Festival (Red Sea IFF) has announced the line-up of twelve global shorts selected for the Red Sea: Shorts Competition. The competition is part of the festival’s fourth edition that will take place in Jeddah’s historic district of Al-Balad from December 5 to 14.
The selected shorts point a lens at powerful personal journeys, immersing viewers in unforgettable global narratives. The productions are made up of directors from Ethiopia, India, Iran, Kenya, Bangladesh Malaysia, and Mauritius.
Commenting on the selected films, Kaleem Aftab, Director of International Programming at Red Sea International Film Festival said: “Cinema is a universal language – within moments, it can transcend borders and transport viewers. This year’s international selection strives to capture a diversity of voices while addressing bold themes, providing a platform for emerging artists to showcase their work.”
The selected films explore pertinent topics of identity, memory, and belonging, while traversing various corners of the globe to shine a light on diverse perspectives.
The selection reflects Red Sea IFF’s mission to bring the best of underrepresented talent to thousands of film lovers and industry experts, helping to facilitate connections with stakeholders across the ecosystem. Since its inception, the Red Sea Film Festival has focused on cultivating international partnerships, bringing together key professionals, filmmakers, and audiences from different backgrounds to celebrate a shared love of cinema. The festival has been dedicated to empowering international filmmakers through mentorship programs, networking opportunities, and resources, contributing to the growth and sustainability of the global film industry.
The international films selected for the 2024 Red Sea: Shorts Competition at the 4th Red Sea International Film Festival are: Across the Watersdirected by Viv Li (China, France), Alazar directed by Beza Hailu Lemma (Ethiopia), Hatch directed by Alireza Kazemipour, Panta Mosleh (Iran, Canada), Lai Lei directed by Binglin Cui (China), Lunge directed by Negar Hassanzadeh (Iran), Nails directed by Triparna Banerjee (India), Never Have I Everdirected by Joyce A. Nashawati (Lebanon, France), Pie Dan Lodirected by Kim YIP TONG (Mauritius), Radikals directed by Arvin Belarmino (Philippines, Bangladesh, US and France), Sanki Yoxsan directed by Azer Guliev (Azerbaijan, France), Urefu We Kamba directed by Mageto Ndege (Kenya), and Washhh directed by Mickey Lai (Malaysia).
