New Projects by ‘The Mother of All Lies’ and ‘Hiding Saddam Hussein’ Directors Amongst Winners of the Fourth Edition of Red Sea Souk
The Red Sea Souk has announced the winners of its Project Market during today’s Souk Awards Ceremony, spotlighting standout projects from a curated selection of 31 feature films and 7 series. These remarkable projects, helmed by visionary directors from the Arab world, Africa, and Asia, were recognized with an impressive array of cash prizes and in-kind support.
Highlighting the evening, the Red Sea Fund backed nine awards—two for works-in-progress and seven for projects in development—reinforcing its dedication to nurturing cinematic brilliance and championing the next generation of storytellers.
Full list of winners below:
Arab Cinema Center (ACC)
Two supported places on the International Film Festival Rotterdam Producers Lab
Awarded by ACC
Saudi Winner: “Do Re Mimi”
Producer: Jawaher Alamri
Arab Winner: “It’s Okay, I’m Only Human”
Producer: Christelle Younes
Filmmore
One in-kind award for a works-in-progress film consisting of a full digital intermediate worth $32,500
Awarded by Filmmore
Winner: “Fuxi”
Director: Qiu JiongJiong
Freshly Ground Stories
Two in-kind awards of professional business and legal support for a project, up to 12 months in any stage of the production cycle, each worth $5,000.
Awarded by Freshly Ground Stories
Winner: “Holy Cow”
Director: Asmae El Moudir
Winner:
“Assa, A Fish in a Bowl”
Director: Dahlia Nemlich
Impronta Films
One in-kind award for a documentary project of consultancy sessions over 12-months, worth $10,000.
Awarded by Impronta Films
Winner: “Farouk”
Director: Halkawt Mustafa
Oticons
One in-kind award for a work-in-progress film consisting of in-kind music consulting services worth $10,000
Awarded by Oticons
Winner: “Fuxi”
Director: Qiu JiongJiong
Shift Studios
Shift Studios awards for a promotion package worth $12,000
Two Awards
Awarded by Shift Studios
Winner: “I Didn’t Sign Up for This.”
Director: Lana Komsany.
Winner: “Do-Re-Mimi”
Director: Fatima Albanawi
Shift Studios award consisting of a full DCP package worth $8,000
Winner: “Blue Card”
Director: Mohamed Al’Omda
TITRAFILM
In-kind award for a work-in-progress film worth $10,000
Awarded by TITRAFILM
Winner: “Allah Is Not Obliged”
Directed by Zaven Najjar
Arab Radio and Television Network (ART)
$50,000 ART grant for one Saudi project in development or production
Awarded by ART
Winner: “I Didn’t Sign Up for This”
Director: Lana Komsany
$50,000 ART Award for one Arab Project in development or production
Awarded by ART
Winner: “Holy Cow”
Director: Asmae El Moudir
MAD Solutions
$50,000 to a project in development, in production or in post production.
Awarded by MAD
Winner: “Do Re Mimi”
Director: Fatima Albanawi
MBC Academy/Shahid
$40,000 MBC Academy /Shahid Award for a Saudi project in development
Awarded by MBC
Winner: “Hadd”
Director: Jamal Kutbi
Two $20,000 MBC Academy/Shahid Awards for a project in development or production or post-production
Awarded by MBC
Winner: “Close Rose Close”
Director: Rulan Hasan
Winner: “Blue Card”
Director: Mohamed Al’Omda
Ambient Light
As Ambient Light – one cash award of $10,000 for a project in development
Winner: “It’s Okay, I’m Only Human”
Directed by Karim Ghorayeb and George Barbari
As A2J – one in-kind award with a value of $10,000 for post-production services to a works-in-progress project
Awarded by Ambient Light
Winner: “A Winner Is Seen at the Start”
Directed by Zhannat AlShanova.
Rotana Studios
One cash and three in-kind awards consisting of:
$50,000 cash award for an Arab film
Awarded by Rotana Studios
Winner: “Close Close Close”
Director: Rulan Hasan
Two in-kind awards valued at $50,000 each in the form of distribution fees waiver for two Arab projects to be distributed by Rotana Studios
Awarded by Rotana Studios
Winner: “Blue Card”
Director: Mohamed Al’Omda
Winner: “Close Close Close”
Director: Rulan Hasan
One in-kind award valued at $25,000 in the form of free inclusion in content development lab Rotana-Sard for six months for a Saudi project
Awarded by Rotana Studios
Winner: “Do Re Mimi”
Director: Fatima Albanawi
Best Media Production
Best Media Production Award for one project in development or production with an amount of $10,000
Awarded by Best Media Production
Winner: “It’s Okay, I’m Only Human”
Directors: Karim Ghorayeb, George Peter Barbari
CNC
CNC Award for one project with an amount of €8,000 ($8,500 equivalent)
Awarded by the Red Sea Souk projects in development jury
Winner: “Holy Cow”
Director: Asmae El Moudir
Ithra
50,000 SAR ($13,333) Ithra award for one Saudi project in production or post-production
Awarded by Ithra
Winner: “Hadd”
Director: Jamal Kutbi
Red Sea Souk Works in Progress Awards:
Red Sea Souk post-production jury special mention award with a grant of $15,000
Awarded by Red Sea Souk WIP jury
Winner: “Fuxi”
Director: Qiu JiongJiong
Red Sea Souk Post-Production Award with a grant of $40,000
Awarded by Red Sea Souk WIP Jury
Winner: “Guria”
Director: Levan Koguashvili
Red Sea Labs Awards:
Two $5,000 Red Sea Labs SeriesLab Awards
Awarded by Red Sea Souk SeriesLab Jury
First winner: “Cold Case One” ($5,000) written by Nithin Lukose and Hari Kirishnan
Second winner: “Generation A” ($5,000) written by Mona Ombogo
One $10,000 Red Sea Labs SeriesLab Award
Awarded by Red Sea Souk SeriesLab Jury
Winner: “Saria Othman Needs No Man” ($10,000) written by Estephan Khattar
$20,000 Red Sea Labs Jury special mention award for a Red Sea Lodge project
Awarded by Red Sea Souk Projects in Development Jury
Winner: “Close Close Close”
Director: Rulan Hasan
$40,000 Red Sea Labs Production Award for a Red Sea Lodge project
Awarded by Red Sea Souk Projects in Development Jury
Winner: “The Silent Ones”
Director: Jawahine Zentar
$50,000 Red Sea Labs Production Award for a Red Sea Lodge project
Awarded by Red Sea Souk Projects in Development Jury
Winner: “Pepo Kali”
Director: Lydia Matata
$70,000 Red Sea Labs Production Award for a Red Sea Lodge project
Awarded by Red Sea Souk Projects in Development Jury
Winner: “Blue Card”
Director: Mahamed Al’Omda
Red Sea Souk Projects in Development Awards:
$20,000 Red Sea Souk Jury Special Mention Award
Awarded by Red Sea Souk Projects in Development Jury
Winner: “Tahmina”
Director: Aboozar Amini
$30,000 Red Sea Souk Development Award
Awarded by Red Sea Souk Projects in Development Jury
Winner: “Watch it Burn”
Director: Makbul Mubarak
$75,000 Red Sea Souk Production Award
Awarded by Red Sea Souk Projects in Development Jury
Winner: “Robbing Beirut”
Director: Katia Jarjoura
TunisianMonitorOnline (TMO correspondent Douha Saafi)
