Spike Lee to Head Jury at Red Sea International Film Festival 2024

The Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) has announced that Academy Award-winning filmmaker Spike Lee will preside as President of the Jury for this year’s Red Sea: Features Competition. The festival's fourth edition will take place from December 5th to 14th in Jeddah’s historic Old Town of Al Balad, Saudi Arabia.

Renowned for his groundbreaking films such as Malcolm X and BlacKkKlansman, Spike Lee’s storied career has solidified his status as a global cinematic trailblazer. A graduate of Morehouse College and NYU’s Graduate Film School—where he studied alongside Ernest Dickerson and Ang Lee—Lee has continually redefined storytelling in film. Beyond directing, he serves as a tenured professor and artistic director at NYU and was recently awarded the National Medal of Arts and Humanities by President Joe Biden. Earlier this year, Lee was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a SuperFan, joining fellow icons Jack Nicholson and Billy Crystal.

Jomana Al Rashid, Chairwoman of the Red Sea Film Foundation, shared her excitement about Lee’s involvement, stating: “Looking towards our fourth edition, we’re honoured to welcome the legendary Spike Lee as our President of Jury for the festival this year. Spike is a pioneering director whose iconic work has made a lasting impact on both film as a medium and culture at large. His energy, incisiveness, and genuine championing of creativity and new voices make him an ideal fit to lead our jury.”

Lee, who attended RSIFF in 2022, expressed his enthusiasm about returning: “Having been lucky enough to experience first-hand the incredible filmmaking, atmosphere, and creativity at the Red Sea International Film Festival in 2022, it’s a privilege to be returning this year as President of the Jury. Alongside creating a melting pot for cultures to come together in celebration of our important art form, it’s vital to continue to platform young and emerging filmmakers who are finding their voice in the industry. I’m looking forward to diving into the programme and making what I’m sure will be some very tough decisions alongside the leading luminaries on the jury.”

This year’s Red Sea: Features Competition will spotlight first-time directors from the Arab region, Asia, and Africa, reaffirming RSIFF’s commitment to amplifying emerging voices in global cinema.