EXCLUSIVE: The Red Sea International Film Festival has announced its seven honorees for its annual Women in Cinema Gala, which spotlights contributions of female filmmakers, creators, actors and executives to the entertainment industry.  This year's roster includes Zambian-Welsh writer-director…

Veteran journalist and programmer Fionnuala Halligan has been hired as the Red Sea Film Festival's Director of International Programmes.  Halligan replaces Kaleem Aftab, who stepped down late last year. Her remit will include working alongside Director of Arab Programs and Film Classics Antoine…

Saudi film industry pioneer and founder of CineWaves Faisal Baltyuor has been appointed CEO Of the Red Sea Film Foundation. He will take over from Acting CEO Mohammed Asseri effective June 1st, 2025. Baltyuor is a driving force in the Saudi film industry, having held posts as the first head of…

Minnie Driver has confirmed she will return to playing the role of Queen Elizabeth I for The Serpent Queen spinoff, in which she had played a supporting role as the iconic British monarch. Stepping into Deadline's Red Sea Studio in Jeddah this week, the actress said writer-executive producer…

The media spotlight may have been on the raft of Hollywood A-listers hitting the fourth edition of Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Film Festival in the port city of Jeddah over these past 10 days, but what was happening in the backdrop at its market was no less remarkable. Like the rest of the festival…

Shivani Pandya Malhotra, Managing Director of the Red Sea International Film Festival, stepped into Deadline's Red Sea Studio this week to reflect on the festival's fourth edition, which this year was relocated to Jeddah's Al-Balad district, and revealed why the festival amped up its star power this…

Welcome to your weekly Insider, friends. Jesse Whittock here, with news from the heart of Disney, the Golden Globes and the Red Sea. Off we go. Sign up here. Disney Wished For Moore Chris Jackson – WPA Pool/Getty…

Tunisia director Lotfi Achour’s Red Path has won best film and director at the fourth edition of Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Film Festival. The drama was among 15 titles from the Middle East, Africa, and, for the first time, Asia competing for the festival's Yusrs awards. Red Path, which world…

Former Netflix MENA Head of Business and Legal Affairs Izzy Abidi and Egyptian entertainment lawyer and consultant, Aliaa Zaky, who works with companies such as Mad Solutions and Film Clinic, hit Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Film Festival this week to launch a pioneering award they believe fills a gap in…

Title: Saify Director: Wael Abumansour  Logline: At 40 years old, Saify Muhammed is a washed-up confidence trickster who owes money to everyone, including his ex-wife. Now he is trying his hand at blackmail. The year is 2000 and Saify has a dilapidated music shop selling cassette tapes…

Andrew Garfield touched down at Deadline's Red Sea Studio in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to talk about his recently wrapped projects The Magic Faraway Tree and After the Hunt while also lifting the lid on his thoughts of Jacob Elordi replacing him as the iconic monster in Guillermo del…

Producing an independent film is a challenge at the best of times:  Beirut-based producer Georges Schoucair has shot two tightly financed indie features and helped launch a new arthouse cinema this year against the backdrop of war. The veteran Lebanese producer, whose credits include Memory Box…