The Red Sea Souk, a cornerstone of the upcoming Red Sea International Film Festival, has unveiled its 2025 program, boasting a significant increase in global reach. Scheduled for December 6-10, the industry platform will host over 160 exhibitors from 45 countries, representing a 20% surge in pavilion participation from the previous year.
The Souk aims to connect emerging filmmakers with established industry leaders through an expanded lineup of panels, workshops, and training sessions. A key focus will be the high-level “Talks” series, featuring discussions on critical industry trends such as artificial intelligence, co-production models, the evolving streaming landscape, and the rapidly growing Saudi audience.
The event will gather a roster of prominent international speakers, including executives from Disney+, Netflix, MBC Group, VOX Cinemas, AGC Studios, and Anonymous Content, among others.
Partner-Led Sessions and Talent Development
A dedicated segment will allow key partners, including the Cultural Fund, Amazon Studios, and the African Culture Agency, to host specialized sessions addressing regional industry developments.
Central to the Souk’s mission is its talent development arm. The “Souk Talents Program” offers workshops and mentorship for Arab filmmakers, while the expanded “Jewels Program” now features four distinct tracks:
- Jewels: Filmmaker Track for directors presenting short works.
- Mastering Film Criticism to explore the field’s cultural impact.
- Jewels: Short Film Track supporting development and production.
- Rising Professionals offering industry mentorship.
Additional “Open Talks” will provide aspiring creators with practical insights, covering topics from the entire filmmaking journey to strategies for making short films stand out.
Networking and Project Market
The Souk Networking Hub will facilitate daily one-on-one meetings with experts, and special events will be held with international partners like the Shanghai International Film Festival. Souk members will also gain access to select festival screenings.
Running parallel to the Souk, the Red Sea Projects Market will showcase 40 film and television projects from Africa, Asia, and the Arab world that are currently in development or production, highlighting new voices and stories from the regions.
TunisianMonitorOnline (Douha Essaafi)
