Red Sea Film Foundation Chief Jomana Al-Rashid on Fueling Saudi Arabia’s Cinematic Ambitions

As a seasoned film critic with a penchant for uncovering the hidden gems of cinema, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the transformation of film industries across the globe. But nothing quite compares to the breathtaking metamorphosis taking place in Saudi Arabia’s cinematic landscape. The Red Sea Film Festival and its International Film Foundation, under the visionary leadership of Jomana Al-Rashid, are playing a pivotal role in this revolution.


This year, Saudi Arabia is making a strong impact at the Venice Film Festival with six Arab movies, sponsored by the Red Sea Film Festival’s foundation, being screened in different categories, including a professional exhibition.

Here’s one way of rephrasing the text:

EbMaster had a conversation with Jomana Al-Rashid, the head of the Red Sea Film Festival International Film Foundation, on fostering the burgeoning movie industry in Saudi Arabia.

What can you tell me about the evolution of cinematic events in Saudi Arabia, starting from when the ban on movies was lifted at the end of 2017?

The advancement of these Saudi films has been nothing short of remarkable, surpassing our initial expectations for speed. This year saw “Noura” become the first Saudi film chosen for the Cannes Film Festival, and just recently, “Mandoob,” another groundbreaking Saudi Arabian thriller, hit U.K. cinema screens. It’s astonishing to see Saudi films making their way around the world for the very first time. Yet we aim for more than one film per year; we aspire to have at least 10. To achieve this, we must focus on developing the necessary infrastructure and the entire value chain within the industry. I strongly believe that the Red Sea Film Foundation is instrumental in driving these changes forward. We are committed to supporting films throughout their lifecycle, from the early stages of development all the way through distribution.

As a cinephile, I’m thrilled about the upcoming opening of the first art-house cinema in Riyadh! I can’t wait to witness the fascinating interplay between independent and mainstream films in Saudi Arabia. How do you imagine this contrast will unfold here?

For us, it’s about forms of expression and good storytelling, whether it’s indie films or the more commercial films. If you have a good story then that’s something that we are going to support. We want to work with all different genres and all different kinds of films. I know that there are producers and financiers who are always looking for a considerable return on investment. But ultimately I think there is a more important message that needs to be highlighted and there is a role for cinema in social transformation and in depicting a certain reality that is taking place. Personally, I am a fan of those artistic films.

Would you provide some information about the latest developments concerning the festival and foundation’s upcoming headquarters situated within Jeddah’s ancient district of Al Balad, where the first event took place?

Absolutely thrilled about our upcoming move! Our refreshed headquarters is set to debut just in time for the next festival season. It’s an exhilarating phase, and the venue, undeniably, will serve as our cinematic abode moving forward. We’re eagerly preparing to introduce fresh perspectives and unexplored genres, with further details to be shared soon. Beyond being a festival hub, our new cultural center aims to host film-related labs, masterclasses, and workshops year-round, ensuring it’s not just a temporary stage but a vibrant cinematic community.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Additional Information: In addition to her position at the Red Sea Foundation, Jomana Al Rashid serves as the CEO of SRMG, a Saudi Arabian publishing and media company that is traded publicly. This company also holds a minority stake in PMC, the parent organization of EbMaster.

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2024-09-03 08:20