Red Sea Film Foundation-backed films to premiere at Locarno Film Festival
The 78th Locarno Film Festival, which will take place from August 6 to 16, 2025, has selected three films supported by the Red Sea Film Foundation.
The selected titles, Irkalla – Gilgamesh's Dream by Iraqi director Mohamed Al-Daradji, Becoming by Kazakh filmmaker Zhannat Alshanova and Exile by Tunisian director Mehdi Hmili, showcase bold storytelling from emerging voices across the Arab world and beyond.
Each film received backing through the Red Sea Fund or the Red Sea Souk, initiatives created by the foundation to foster innovative, diverse narratives in global cinema.
Irkalla – Gilgamesh's Dream reimagines the ancient Mesopotamian epic through a modern lens, following a diabetic street child who urges his fierce companion Gilgamesh to take him to the mythical underworld, Arkala.
Becoming explores themes of identity and self-discovery in contemporary Kazakhstan, tracing a young woman's struggle for independence under the direction of London-based filmmaker Alshanova.
In Exile, Hmili paints a haunting picture of grief and resilience set inside Tunisia's largest steel factory, where four workers grappling with physical and mental trauma are bound together by the mysterious disappearance of a colleague.
The Red Sea Film Foundation said that they are proud in supporting these projects and hailed their inclusion at Locarno as a major achievement for regional cinema and emerging talent.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Broadcast Pro
4 days ago
- Broadcast Pro
Red Sea Film Foundation-backed films to premiere at Locarno Film Festival
The Red Sea Film Foundation supported these projects through its Red Sea Fund and Red Sea Souk initiatives. The 78th Locarno Film Festival, which will take place from August 6 to 16, 2025, has selected three films supported by the Red Sea Film Foundation. The selected titles, Irkalla – Gilgamesh's Dream by Iraqi director Mohamed Al-Daradji, Becoming by Kazakh filmmaker Zhannat Alshanova and Exile by Tunisian director Mehdi Hmili, showcase bold storytelling from emerging voices across the Arab world and beyond. Each film received backing through the Red Sea Fund or the Red Sea Souk, initiatives created by the foundation to foster innovative, diverse narratives in global cinema. Irkalla – Gilgamesh's Dream reimagines the ancient Mesopotamian epic through a modern lens, following a diabetic street child who urges his fierce companion Gilgamesh to take him to the mythical underworld, Arkala. Becoming explores themes of identity and self-discovery in contemporary Kazakhstan, tracing a young woman's struggle for independence under the direction of London-based filmmaker Alshanova. In Exile, Hmili paints a haunting picture of grief and resilience set inside Tunisia's largest steel factory, where four workers grappling with physical and mental trauma are bound together by the mysterious disappearance of a colleague. The Red Sea Film Foundation said that they are proud in supporting these projects and hailed their inclusion at Locarno as a major achievement for regional cinema and emerging talent.
Broadcast Pro
04-07-2025
- Broadcast Pro
Red Sea Fund awards nine projects post-production grants in 2025
To date, the Red Sea Fund, has supported over 280 film projects, including titles that have gone on to screen at major international festivals and reach wide audiences. The Red Sea Fund, part of the Red Sea Film Foundation, has announced nine winning projects for its first cycle of 2025 post-production grants, supporting distinctive films as they complete their final production stages. Selected projects span a diverse range of countries across the Arab world and Asia, including Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Malaysia, France, Turkey and Tunisia. The grants are designed to help these films prepare for international distribution and to promote richer, more varied storytelling from the region to audiences around the globe. Among the recipients are Promised Sky by Erige Sehiri, produced across France, Tunisia and Qatar; FUXI: Joy in Four Chapters by Jiongjiong Qiu, a collaboration between Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, France and Saudi Arabia; and Mother Bhumi by Malaysian director Keat Aun Chong. Other selected titles include Pangku (On Your Lap) from Indonesia, Ghost School from Pakistan, A Winner is Seen at the Start from Kazakhstan, The Baronnesses from Belgium, France and Luxembourg, Round 13 from Tunisia, and Veha from Turkey. Commenting on this announcement, Emad Eskandar, Head of the Red Sea Fund, said: 'These nine projects embody the richness of captivating narratives from the Arab world and Asia, and we are proud to be part of their creative journey. Last year, we expanded our scope to include Asian projects, driven by our deep belief in the immense potential of filmmakers across the continent. Today, we are witnessing the fruits of this approach through this remarkable selection of projects with unique cinematic visions.' Since its inception, the Red Sea Fund has backed more than 280 film projects, many of which have achieved recognition at major international festivals. Among its recent successes are HOBAL, which premiered at the fourth Red Sea International Film Festival and drew over 190,000 viewers in Saudi cinemas, and The Tale of Daye's Family, the opening film of the same festival edition that was later selected for the 2024 Berlin International Film Festival.
Broadcast Pro
29-06-2025
- Broadcast Pro
Saudi filmmaker Faris Godus' ‘Fever Dream' now streaming on Netflix
The film follows a retired football star, hounded by the media, who joins forces with his daughter to seize a chance to take revenge on a powerful social media platform. Saudi director Faris Godus' latest feature film Fever Dream has debuted on Netflix, showcasing an ensemble of prominent Saudi talent including Fatima Al-Banawi, Sohayb Godus, Najm, Hakeem Jomah and Nour Al-Khadra. Backed by the Red Sea Fund, the film had its world premiere at the 2023 Red Sea International Film Festival. Blending drama and psychological tension, Fever Dream explores how media manipulation, digital identity, and the hunger for fame can consume lives in the age of constant online exposure. The story follows Samado, a former football star whose life is overshadowed by public scandal and relentless scrutiny. Determined to reclaim his narrative, he teams up with his daughter to exact revenge on an influential social media platform. As their scheme unfolds, their mission for recognition and redemption slowly morphs into an all-consuming obsession. Najm portrays Ahlam, Samado's daughter and co-conspirator, while Hakeem Jomah plays the PR agent brought in to salvage Samado's reputation. Fatima Al-Banawi appears as Alaa, another key figure in the PR campaign. Faris Godus, who previously gained acclaim with Shams Alma'arif (The Book of Sun), also available on Netflix, and Predicament in Sight, continues to establish himself as one of the most dynamic voices in Saudi cinema.
