The Red Sea International Film Festival is bolstering its industry presence with an expanded Red Sea Souk, set too take place December 6-10. The market, one of the largest in the Arab world, will host over 160 exhibitors from more than 45 countries – a 20% increase from last year – and aims to connect emerging filmmakers with established industry leaders.This year’s Souk will feature a robust program of talks, workshops, and networking opportunities focused on the evolving landscape of film and television, especially within the rapidly growing Saudi Arabian market.
Red Sea International Film Festival Details Expanded Market Program
The Red Sea International Film Festival has unveiled details of the Red Sea Souk, one of the largest film markets in the Arab world. The market will run from December 6 to 10, attracting over 160 exhibitors from more than 45 countries. This year’s edition boasts a 20% increase in booths compared to the previous iteration.
The Souk offers a diverse range of activities designed to connect emerging talent with established industry leaders from across the region and internationally. These include an extensive series of panel discussions, workshops, and specialized training sessions with industry experts, running alongside the Red Sea Projects market. The festival has become a key hub for filmmakers and distributors looking to tap into the growing Saudi Arabian market and the wider Middle East region.
Red Sea Souk Programs
The market’s signature talk series returns with a high-level program offering in-depth insights into the global film landscape. Sessions throughout the market will feature prominent figures and visionaries from various sectors of the regional and international film industry, discussing critical issues shaping today’s screen content. These include the impact of artificial intelligence, co-production opportunities, the streaming sector, the growth of the Saudi audience, and the types of projects attracting funding.
Speakers include Hamza Ali (Watermelon Pictures), Anmar Al Qureshi (VOX Cinemas), Ash Atallah (ROOFKFT Television), Jiten Brill (CNC), Gianluca Chakra (Front Row Entertainment), Akona Kok (Next Narrative Africa Fund), Alaa Faden (TV11), David Davoli (Anonymous Content), Tamim Faris (Disney+), Stuart Ford (AGC Studios), Solay Ghabayen (Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC)), Ali Jafar (MBC Group), Ronnie Jazar (iMagic Group), Alaa Karkouti (Mad Solutions & Arab Cinema Center), Sonia Latoy (Mediawan), Vikram Malhotra (Abundantia Entertainment), Natasha Matos-Hemingway (Shahid), Iman Mazhar Jabran (Netflix), Wangi Mbatha-Ozukoo (Akona Group), Steve Blyth (Human), Nagin Salmasi (Midan), Zaid Shaker (Film AlUla), and David Taghihoff (Library Pictures International).
The Red Sea Souk 2025 will provide a leading platform for select cinema industry partners to host their specialized sessions as part of the program, allowing them to discuss core issues, present initiatives, and highlight the latest industry developments in their countries or regions. Events are being organized by the Cultural Fund, Amazon Studios, the African Culture Agency, Riyadh Art University, the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Cinema of India, the Pakistani Consulate, and Milano Talent Factory.
Speakers include Aaron Badaki Zogobi, the Chadian director and founder of Les Ateliers Touma; Mohamed Ghazala, Vice President of ASIFA and Head of Animation at AUD in Egypt; Birol Guven, General Manager of Birol Cinema and writer/producer; Megdy Velasquez, Executive Vice President of Production for Global Series; Tom Binsthol, Executive Vice President of Production at Amazon MGM Studios in Los Angeles; and Basel Al-Ula, CEO of Business at the Cultural Fund, along with Rasha Al Imam, CEO and Co-Founder of Yellow Bird Studios in Jeddah.
The Souk’s talent program continues to elevate emerging Saudi and Arab cinematic talent through an integrated program combining specialized workshops, mentorship, and interactive discussions. This year’s “Gems” program has expanded significantly with four interconnected tracks reflecting the initiative’s commitment to developing creative and professional skills. The “Gems Filmmakers” track offers a dedicated program for directors participating with short films in the competition, while the “Mastering Film Criticism” track provides a specialized platform to explore the role and impact of film criticism on the cultural landscape. The “Short Film Gem” track supports emerging filmmakers in developing their projects (including pitch and completion stages), and enhances collaboration with sector partners including “Alf Wahed” and “Writers House,” and the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival. The “Rising Professionals” track offers a mentorship program supported by key partners, including “Cannes Producers.”
Open talent talks provide a series of rich sessions exploring various dimensions of film production. Highlights include “The Film Journey,” which invites audiences to experience a live demonstration of a film’s journey from idea and development to selection, distribution, and market launch. Canadian Executive Producer Jennifer Chen will also present “How to Make Your Short Film Shine,” offering practical insights into the best ways to distinguish a short film in distribution markets and festivals. Director Sherine Dabbous will enrich the program with an inspiring discussion in “A Love for Cinema,” reviewing her creative journey and key moments that shaped her cinematic vision. The program team also offers a daily “Market Networking” event, providing attendees with direct access to industry experts in 15-minute meetings, fostering professional exchange and relationship building within the market and festival.
Furthermore, the market offers daily networking opportunities in collaboration with leading international organizations, including the Shanghai International Film Festival, Sierra Studios, the African Culture Agency, and the University of Southern California. Members holding Souk Accreditation and Exclusive Souk Accreditation also have extensive access to selected screenings from the long film program of the Red Sea International Film Festival.
The Projects Market, previously announced, will run concurrently with the market, showcasing 40 cinematic and television projects in development, production, and post-production, highlighting outstanding talent and stories from Africa, Asia, and the Arab world.
All market events will take place within an expanded, purpose-built site near the festival headquarters in the Culture Square.
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