The global cinema family will meet (November 30 - December 9, 2023) in Jeddah for the third edition of the Red Sea IFF. A highlight dedicated both to the development of emerging talents and to professionals in the sector. This for around ten days. The unveiling of the official selection (short films) gives an overall idea of ​​the diverse geographical origins of the creators.

The third edition of the Red Sea IFF - from November 30 to December 9, 2023 - in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, will have included in its selection, 14 opuses, in the short film category in competition (pending the announcement of the feature -features), by emerging and established filmmakers, from the MENA region (Middle East North Africa) and the rest of the world, going "from Singapore to Senegal via Kazakhstan and Pakistan", informs the press release published by the press team on October 9 2023. Their films will have their world premiere at this festival. Thus, we can read in this press release, "their stories will challenge and charm the audience with stimulating stories, organized to correspond to this year's theme: Your Story, Your Festival".

According to Mr. Kaleem Aftab, Director of International Programming, the Selection Committee was overwhelmed by a record number of applications from countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Expressing his impatience to welcome the 14 selected, he and his collaborators, in his words, are "convinced that the future of cinema lies in Asia and Africa, including in the Arab world".

Among the short films in competition we can remember TITANESQUE (Iran, France), a black comedy by Farniosh Samadi, sketching this uncomfortable attitude of the cinema censors in Persian country who do not really know what to ban from the eye of their compatriot and what they should be allowed to see. Or THE LATE WIND by Shugykz Serzhan from Kazakhstan recounting the dismay of a young pregnant woman whose boyfriend disappears in the middle of a storm of demonstrations.

TERRA MATER-PATRICE (Rwanda, Switzerland), by Kantarama Gahigiri, focuses on the location of the healing space after the ravages of technology and waste on our lands, our waters, our ways of life. Showing therefore the concern for safeguarding heritage. We will also remember this work by the Indonesian Kevin Rahardjo, "ACCIDENTALLY INTENTIONAL", talking about the inadvertent gesture of a young 16-year-old boy, viewing dirty images for the first time, only to later realize that the audio has landed in his mother's car via his bluetooth. Let's also talk, among others, about "CRÉPUSCULE", by Awa Moctar Guèye from Senegal, setting his sights on the world of spirits by capturing through the camera the repulsive and fearful silhouette of Pa Kong-Kong who haunts the darkness of a market in Dakar, scaring children. A fantastical story.

Among those selected are filmmakers from Armenia, Ghana, South Africa, the Philippines, etc.




Remember that the Red Sea International Festival (Red Sea IFF) is in its third edition this year. It is an important cinematographic event organized by the Saudi Kingdom to celebrate "the best of Saudi, Arab and international cinema", integrating a diversity of film choices with different themes "ranging from hidden treasures restored thanks to technology, to films of promising talents.

The Red Sea IFF also welcomes professionals from the Seventh Art industry, whether from the Arab world or elsewhere. Thus this festival will be punctuated, in addition to feature film and short film competitions, concerts, masterclasses, workshops for the development and support of emerging talents.

The second edition was widely praised for significantly expanding the industry and events program while presenting 143 films from 66 countries to 39,410 film fans and 4,345 film professionals, media and students, with an overall increase in capacity by 12%.

The 2022 edition recorded a total of 143 films from 66 countries, with 39,410 moviegoers, as well as 4,345 film professionals, media and students, an increase of 12% compared to 2021. And given its character international, many world cinema luminaries were present in Jeddah. Among them: Sharon Stone, Spike Lee, Antonio Banderas, Akshay Kumar, Nadine Labaki, Jackie Chan, Andy Garcia, Ranbir Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan, Gurinder Chadha, Nelly Karim, Fatih Akin, Michel Ocelot, Kaouther Ben Hania, took part in the section called "Conversations", on the initiative of the VOX Cinemas structure.

Bassirou NIANG
Cultural Journalist - Film Critic
www.africine.org
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