Everything You Need to Know About Red Sea Intl. Film Festival’s Souk

As the Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) returns to Jeddah this December, its industry arm—the Red Sea Souk—has unveiled its largest programme yet, underscoring its position as the Arab world’s biggest film market and an increasingly central meeting point for global film development.

Running from December 6th to 10th, the Souk will host more than 160 exhibitors from over 45 countries, reflecting the rising creative momentum across the region and the growing interest in Saudi Arabia as a gathering place for filmmakers and industry leaders.

This year’s edition expands the Souk beyond its traditional market structure, adding a full schedule of talks, masterclasses, workshops, mentorship sessions, and curated networking events. Souk Talks, the Souk’s flagship conversation series, anchors the programme with discussions led by key figures shaping today’s screen industries. Speakers include Ash Atalla (Roughcut Television), Stuart Ford (AGC Studios), Gianluca Chakra (Front Row Entertainment), Alaa Fadan (Telfaz11), Natasha Matos-Hemingway (Shahid), Imane Mezher Gibran (Netflix), and Tamim Fares (Disney+), alongside representatives from VOX Cinemas, MBC Group, AFAC, Film AlUla, Library Pictures International, and others.

Across the week, participants from organisations including Netflix, Disney+, MBC Group, AGC Studios, Front Row Entertainment, CNC, Telfaz11, and Shahid will explore the dominant questions influencing global film culture today—how AI is entering creative workflows, the evolution of streaming audiences, opportunities for cross-border collaboration, and the emergence of new filmmaking voices within Saudi Arabia.

For the first time, select industry partners will also host their own bespoke sessions. Amazon Studios, the Cultural Development Fund, the African Culture Agency, the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Cinemas of India, and others will lead discussions highlighting regional industries, talent pipelines, and new production landscapes.

A key development this year is the expanded Souk Talents programme, designed to support emerging filmmakers, critics, and creative professionals from Saudi Arabia and across the Arab world. Building on The Gems Program, it now includes four strands: Filmmakers Gems for short-film directors; Film Critics Gems, examining the purpose of criticism; Short Film Gems, developed with international partners including Clermont-Ferrand; and Industry Gems, offering mentorship through Cannes Makers.

Open Talks will give audiences a closer look at the craft, including The Film Journey Live, which follows the lifecycle of an independent film from concept to release. Workshops will focus on areas such as positioning shorts for the festival circuit. The programme also features an extended conversation with Palestinian-American director Cherien Dabis, creator of 'Amreeka' and contributor to series including 'Ramy' and 'Only Murders in the Building'.

Daily networking events—co-hosted with partners such as the Shanghai International Film Festival, Seera Studios, USC, and the African Culture Agency—will create space for collaboration, while Guild and Souk Pro attendees gain access to select festival screenings.
The Project Market returns with a curated selection of 40 feature and TV projects from Africa, Asia, and the Arab world, representing filmmakers at development, production, and post-production stages.

All Souk activities will take place in an expanded venue near Cultural Square, marking another step in the festival’s ongoing growth. As the Red Sea IFF enters its fifth edition, Jeddah’s historic Al-Balad district prepares once again to become a focal point for regional and international cinema.