Fionnuala Halligan Appointed Red Sea Film Festival Director of International Programs

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Film reviewer Fionnuala Halligan has taken on the role as head of global initiatives at the Red Sea Film Festival, based in Saudi Arabia.

Fionnuala, currently serving as the chief film critic for Screen International in the U.K., previously held positions as executive editor at this organization and as a film critic for the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong for 12 years. Over the past five years (from 2016 to 2021), she has also worked as a programmer for the Macao International Film Festival, all while maintaining her work with Screen International. Fionnuala is part of prestigious film organizations such as the London Film Critics’ Circle, BAFTA, and the European Film Academy, and is highly regarded on Rotten Tomatoes as a top-rated critic.

I’m thrilled to step into the role that Kaleem Aftab previously held as the director of international programming at the Red Sea Film Festival, a position he vacated in March after an impressive four-year tenure. I’ll be collaborating closely with Antoine Khalife, the festival’s director of Arab programs and film classics, to craft and select the films that will grace the screens at this Jeddah-based event. As a movie enthusiast, I can’t wait to contribute to such a prestigious platform.

From the start, Finn has been an associate and advocate for us, and she possesses exceptional taste in cinema from all around the world, with a special affinity for Asian films – a focus area that our organization has been promoting more as we expand our reach,” stated Shivani Pandya-Malhotra, Managing Director of the Red Sea Film Foundation. “We are extremely delighted to have her on board to lead our international division, which is a key aspect of our festival and is growing in recognition and influence on the global stage with each passing event.

Halligan expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to work with the Red Sea Film Foundation in their new position. With his current commitment at Screen coming to an end, he eagerly anticipates diving into this role fully following the Cannes Film Festival. He is excited to collaborate closely with the team to refine and broaden the festival’s international programming.

The Red Sea Film Festival’s fifth installment is scheduled from December 4th through the 13th, taking place along the Red Sea’s eastern coast in Jeddah.

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2025-05-14 11:52