As a movie enthusiast with a profound appreciation for the art of storytelling and its power to bridge cultures, I found myself captivated by the heartwarming story of Andrew Garfield and Benedict Cumberbatch‘s journey at this year’s Red Sea Film Festival. Their dedication to fostering creativity, particularly in empowering female voices in film, resonates deeply with my own experiences as an aspiring filmmaker.
Among the most anticipated films at this year’s Red Sea Film Festival, John Crowley’s “We Live in Time,” had a significant draw on Monday evening at Jeddah’s Culture Square, gathering many young and enthusiastic spectators. As promised by the festival, the movie, with its explicit sexual content and female nudity, was not subjected to censorship. Although some viewers looked away during these scenes, they generally responded favorably to Andrew Garfield’s latest performance.
The well-known British actor, Garfield, is highly admired in this area and will be making his second visit to the Red Sea. Last year, he attended for a talk and to explore AlUla, where movies like “Cherry” and “Kandahar” were filmed. This time, he’s not just here to showcase his film with Florence Pugh, but also as a mentor at the Souk – the festival’s professional branch. Earlier on the day of the movie premiere, Garfield held a private workshop for aspiring filmmakers participating in the festival’s talent programs.
Garfield expresses great enthusiasm and emotion when told about the audience’s response to the film,” Garfield tells EbMaster. “I hold immense admiration for all cultures I’m not a part of, and I find it captivating how humans organize themselves and form belief systems. I am equally thrilled and intrigued by how a culture can evolve, break barriers, venture into novel ways of thought. It’s a challenging process, and I empathize deeply with that. The transformation taking place here in Saudi is truly inspiring.
Cumberbatch, under his SunnyMarch productions label, informed EbMaster that culture, including filmmaking, has a significant impact on shaping people’s perspectives and sparking change in societal terms. He finds it thrilling to witness such strong backing for this transformation in Saudi Arabia.
Garfield stepped onto the stage to introduce the movie, offering a warm “Assalamu alaikum,” or “peace be with you” in Arabic as a Muslim greeting to the audience. This actor, known for playing deeply spiritual characters, expressed a deep sense of spirituality after the film screening in Jeddah, feeling it was particularly profound.
“It was a profound night,” he says, adding that he went out to dinner with Cumberbatch, former CEO of the Red Sea Film Foundation Mohammed Al Turki, and Jeremy Renner, also in town for the festival. “We were all on a rooftop in the old town, with traditional Saudi music being played live and traditional Saudi food being served. People were smoking shisha and this very beautiful, low-hanging, rust-colored moon was floating over us, a beautiful sea of stars above us and the energy of the land here is so very beautiful. It felt like a magical atmosphere. I slept incredibly well. I had amazing dreams. I feel the magic of the place.”
Benedict Cumberbatch expressed similar feelings, reminiscing about gazing from the rooftop restaurant and noticing “one path leads to Mecca, while another leads to the sea.” He described the allure of this location as “powerful and intoxicating, evoking tales of enchantment and magic. The Arabian night is steeped in a deep sense of significance, and I approach it with an open heart and immense respect for its rich history.
The former actor-turned-producer expressed enthusiasm about being here, since he’s been an advocate for a long time for women creators in the movie business. Notably, the Red Sea Film Festival is committed to uplifting female voices in film, as evidenced by their annual Women in Cinema awards event.
He mentions that the festival initially piqued his interest when he was invited last year, but unfortunately, he couldn’t attend due to logistical reasons. However, he did have breakfast with jury member Minnie Driver, who expressed her aim to generate meaningful creative outcomes by leveraging the synergy between this evolving culture that empowers women in various aspects of society.
As reported by Cumberbatch, Driver has been discussing plans to establish a “creative workshop” in Saudi Arabia. “She’s arranging the details to make it a reality. Here, people can talk about grand ideas and big dreams, but she envisions this as a place where those dreams can be turned into reality.
Regarding Garfield, he’s thrilled to take part in this year’s festival’s nurturing programs, having been someone who required a lot of support and motivation when he first began. “I received tremendous assistance from numerous generous sources, and it would bring me immense joy to provide that same help to others. I’m not sure what I have to offer, but I will give whatever I can – myself, my resources – and that feels really good.
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2024-12-11 00:16