Saudi Arabia’s Pink Sea Worldwide Movie Competition has unveiled it 2023 line-up and theme because it maintains its third version in opposition to the backdrop of the escalating Israel-Gaza Battle. (scroll down for full record)
The version, working from November 30 to December 9 within the port metropolis of Jeddah, will unfold beneath the theme of “Your Story, Your Competition”.
Among the many key sections introduced on Monday was the Pink Sea Worldwide Movie Competition: In Competitors part which can showcase 17 narrative and documentary options from Asia, Africa, and the Arab world.
Contenders embrace Farah Nabulsi critically acclaimed West Financial institution-set first characteristic The Instructor, Afef Ben Mahmoud and Khalil Benkirane’s Atlas Mountains-set, theatre troupe street film Backstage, Tawfik Alzaidi’s AlUla-shot drama Norah, and Iranian director Parviz Shahbazi’s drama Roxana.
The competition’s Particular Screenings sidebar options Johnny Depp starring costume romance Jeanne du Barry in addition to Kaouther Ben Hania’s hybrid work 4 Daughters, co-winner of Cannes’ L’Oeil d’Or documentary prize and Tunisia’s submission for Finest Worldwide movie this 12 months.
In different key sections, the 11-title Arab Spectacular sidebar will showcase Tamer Ruggli’s acclaimed mom and daughter drama Again to Alexandria, Iraqi Dubai-based director Yasir Al Yasiri’s groundbreaking fantasy HWJN, and Meshal Al Jaser’s humorous thriller NAGA.
Monday’s announcement dispels questions over whether or not the occasion can be cancelled as a result of escalating Israel-Hamas battle, sparked by the latter’s terror assaults on Southern Israel on October 7, by which 1,400 folks have been killed and greater than 240 hostages have been taken.
A number of Center East and North African movie festivals have deserted their 2023 fall editions in current weeks out of solidarity for the inhabitants of Gaza, the place greater than 9,000 folks have been killed by Israel’s retaliatory navy marketing campaign aimed toward eradicating Hamas and bringing dwelling the hostages.
Pink Sea Basis CEO Mohammed Al-Turki and Managing Director Shivani Pandya Malhotra didn’t allude to the occasions unfolding within the backdrop of their assertion accompanying as we speak’s announcement, focusing as an alternative on the theme and choice.
“We really feel it’s significantly well timed to make use of the medium of movie to have a look at what connects us, and to present a platform to the voices and experiences of individuals in our area and past to foster perception, understanding and compassion. We sit up for as soon as once more welcoming the worldwide movie group in Jeddah for our third version,” they mentioned.
Kaleem Aftab, Director of Worldwide Applications, mentioned the movies chosen for the Pink Sea: Competitors have been “a stark reminder of the various points going through humanity as we speak.”
With three weeks to go and no signal of an abatement within the Israel-Hamas confiict, it stays to be seen what number of regional and worldwide professionals will make the journey to Jeddah this 12 months, amid issues over security and whether or not that is the correct time to attend a competition.
One of many professionals canvassed by Deadline forward of Monday’s announcement, mentioned it was essential for the competition to go forward.
“Life ought to and should go on,” they mentioned.
Launched in 2021, within the wake of Saudi Arabia’s opening as much as the world beneath its 2030 Imaginative and prescient aimed toward transferring its economic system away from a reliance on oil, the RSIFF is a cornerstone of the nation’s technique to rework itself into the main artistic industries hub within the area.
In simply two editions, it has established itself as one of many area’s glitziest movie occasions, with a raft of high-profile stars hitting the purple carpet, many in return for hefty charges.
Excessive-profile visitors making the journey final 12 months included Oliver Stone, Sharon Stone, Spike Lee and Man Ritchie alongside Bollywood stars Shah Rubk Khan, Hrithik Roshan and Priyanka Chopra, in addition to Bruno Mars, who carried out a set on the opening night time.
Particular Screenings
TO MY SON (World Premiere)
Dir Dhafer L’abidine
Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates
JEANNE DU BARRY
Dir Maïwenn
France, Saudi Arabia
Pink Sea Worldwide Movie Competition: Arab Spectacular
FOUR DAUGHTERS
Dir Kaouther Ben Hania
France, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Tunisia
HAJJAN
Dir Abu Bakr Shawky
Saudi Arabia, Egypt
KHALED EL SHEIKH BETWEEN TWO FIRES, ART AND POLITICS (World Premiere)
Dir Jamal Kutbi
Saudi Arabia
FEVER DREAM (World Premiere)
Dir Faris Godus
Saudi Arabia
THREE (World Premiere)
Dir Nayla Alkhaja
United Arab Emirates, Thailand
HWJN (World Premiere)
Dir Yasir Alyasiri
Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates
BACK TO ALEXANDRIA
Dir Tamer Ruggli
France, Switzerland, Egypt
NAGA
Dir Meshal Aljaser
Saudi Arabia
SHAMAREEKH (World Premiere)
Dir Amr Salama
Egypt
YESTERDAY AFTER TOMORROW (World Premiere)
Dir Abdulghani Alsaigh
Saudi Arabia
A NOSE AND THREE EYES (World Premiere)
Dir Amir Ramses
Egypt, United Arab Emirates
I AM AL-ITTIHAD (World Premiere)
Dir Hamza Tarzan
Saudi Arabia
Pink Sea Worldwide Movie Competition: In Competitors
INSHALLAH A BOY
Dir Amjad Al Rashid
Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, France, Qatar
BEHIND THE MOUNTAINS
Dir Mohamed Ben Attia
Tunisia, France, Belgium, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Qatar
NORAH (World Premiere)
Dir Tawfik Alzaidi
Saudi Arabia
HIDING SADDAM HUSSEIN
Dir Halkawt Mustafa
Norway, Iraq
BACKSTAGE
Dir Afef Ben Mahmoud, Khalil Benkirane
Morocco, Tunisia, Belgium, France, Qatar, Norway, Saudi Arabia
THE TEACHER
Dir Farah Naboulsi
United Kingdom, Palestine, Qatar
DALMA (World Premiere)
Dir Humaid Alsuwaidi
United Arab Emirates
MANDOOB
Dir Ali Kalthami
Saudi Arabia
SIX FEET OVER
Dir Karim Bensalah
Algeria, France
DEAR JASSI
Dir Tarsem Singh Dhandwar
India
IN FLAMES
Dir Zarra Khan
Pakistan, Canada
WAKHRI (ONE OF A KIND) (World Premiere)
Dir Iram Parveen Bilal
Pakistan, USA
SUNDAY (YAKSHANBA)
Dir Shokir Kholikov
Uzbekistan
TIGER STRIPES
Dir Amanda Nell Eu
Malaysia, Taiwan R.O.C., Singapore, France, Germany, Netherlands, Indonesia, Qatar
ROXANA
Dir Parviz Shahbazi
Iran
OMEN (AUGURE)
Dir Baloji
Belgium, Netherlands, Democratic Republic of the Congo
EVIL DOES NOT EXIST
Dir Ryûsuke Hamaguchi
