12/12/2025 - Yunan, Hijra and A Sad and Beautiful World have also pocketed prizes, adding to the list of European co-productions that won plaudits at Saudi Arabia’s leading film gathering

l-r: Lost Land producers Kazutaka Watanabe and Sujauaddin Karimud and director Akio Fujimoto after the awards ceremony (© Getty Images/RSIFF)

During its fifth edition, the Red Sea International Film Festival proved that the formula it offers – mixing an arthouse film programme, a diverse industry sidebar (the Red Sea Souk) dedicated to emerging and more seasoned filmmakers, and meetings with famous actors and directors within the In-Conversation strand – continues to be effective. Despite the heavy rain (a rare occurrence in the city of Jeddah) that halted the festival for one day, the gathering attracted a sizeable audience. Screening rooms were full, as was the Red Sea Souk space.

Two days before the official conclusion of the festival, the winners of the competitive sections and the recipients of honorary awards were unveiled. The jury, led by US filmmaker and recent Palme d’Or winner Sean Baker, also included Lebanese director Nadine Labaki, British actors Naomie Harris and Riz Ahmed, as well as Ukrainian-French thesp Olga Kurylenko. They decided to give the main prize, the Golden Yusr Award, to Lost Land [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Akio Fujimoto from Japan. The film had its world premiere in Venice’s Orizzonti section, where it picked up a Special Jury Prize.

All That’s Left of You [+see also:
film review
interview: Cherien Dabis
film profile], a family saga set in Palestine and Jordan’s Oscar entry, penned and directed by Cherien Dabis, secured the Silver Yusr accolade. In turn, the Saudi Academy Award hopeful Hijra [+see also:
trailer
film profile] – a lovely road movie about a grandmother and granddaughter, helmed by Jeddah native Shahad Ameen – took home two prizes: the Yusr Jury Prize and the AlUla Audience Award for Best Saudi Film.

The melancholic Yunan [+see also:
film review
film profile], which premiered in the Berlinale Competition earlier this year, pocketed Best Director for Ameer Fakher Eldin and Best Actor for George Khabbaz. The World of Love’s Seo Su-Bin, from South Korea, bagged the Best Actress gong. The Chinese title Nighttime Sounds and its director, Zhang Zhongchen, received the Yusr Cinematic Achievement Award. The AlShark Best Documentary Award was given to French star Juliette Binoche for her non-fiction debut, In-I: In Motion.

Last but not least, My Father’s Scent [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Mohamed Siam
film profile] – the narrative debut by Mohammed Siam, presented in Festival Favourites and the winner of the Cineuropa Award at the 25th Cinemamed (see the news) – bagged the AlUla Audience Award for Best Non-Saudi Film.

Apart from the full-length movies, short forms were also rewarded. The jury, consisting of Darin J Sallam from Jordan, actress Nour Alkhadra and Oscar-winning Danish producer Kim Magnusson, gave the Golden Yusr Prize for Best Short Film to Coyotes by Said Zagha. Karim Eldin Elalfy’s Empty Lands landed the Silver Yusr Award, while a Special Mention from the jury was issued to JEEM 1983 by Jorj Abou Mhaya.

Closing night also saw four accomplished filmmakers receive honorary awards: US helmer Darren Aronofsky, British thesps Idris Elba and Sir Anthony Hopkins, and Saudi actor-director Ahd Kamel. In their acceptance speeches, they all mentioned the atmosphere of the festival, and praised the enthusiasm and ambition of local talents. The first three filmmakers also participated in the In-Conversation format.

The fifth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival, which started on 4 December, will continue for two more days.

Here is the full list of award winners:

Red Sea: Competition

Golden Yusr Best Feature Film
Lost Land [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] – Akio Fujimoto (Japan/France/Malaysia/Germany)

Silver Yusr Feature Film
All That’s Left of You [+see also:
film review
interview: Cherien Dabis
film profile] – Cherien Dabis (Germany/Greece/Jordan/Cyprus/Palestine)

Yusr Best Director
Ameer Fakher Eldin – Yunan [+see also:
film review
film profile] (Germany/Canada/Italy/Palestine/Qatar/Jordan/Saudi Arabia)

Yusr Jury Prize
Hijra [+see also:
trailer
film profile] – Shahad Ameen (Saudi Arabia/Iraq/Egypt/UK)

Yusr Best Actor
George Khabbaz – Yunan

Yusr Best Actress
Seo Su-Bin – The World of Love (South Korea)

Yusr Best Screenplay
A Sad and Beautiful World [+see also:
film review
interview: Cyril Aris
film profile] – Cyril Aris (Lebanon/USA/Germany/Saudi Arabia/Qatar)

Yusr Cinematic Achievement
Nighttime Sounds – Zhang Zhongchen (China)

Red Sea: Shorts Competition

Golden Yusr Best Short Film
Coyotes - Said Zagha (Palestine/France/Jordan/UK)

Silver Yusr Short Film
Empty Lands - Karim Eldin Elalfy (USA/Egypt)

Short Special Mention
JEMM 1983 - Jorj Abou Mhaya (Lebanon)

Other awards

Al Sharq Best Documentary Award
In-I: In Motion - Juliette Binoche (France)

AlUla Audience Award – Saudi Film
Hijra – Shahad Ameen

AlUla Audience Award – Non-Saudi Film
My Father’s Scent [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Mohamed Siam
film profile] – Mohamed Siam (Egypt/Norway/Sweden/Switzerland/France/Saudi Arabia/Qatar)