Red Sea Film Festival to open with boxing biopic 'Giant'

The Red Sea Film Festival announced its fifth edition lineup on Tuesday, with the boxing biopic "Giant" opening the 10-day festival on December 4 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabiaimdb+2.
"Giant" stars Amir El Masry as British-Yemeni boxing champion Prince Naseem "Naz" Hamed and Pierce Brosnan as his Irish trainer Brendan Ingle, chronicling Hamed's rise from Sheffield to world champion while confronting racism and Islamophobia in 1980s and '90s Britainimdb+2.
The International Spectacular strand features films starring Angelina Jolie in Alice Winocour's drama "Couture," Paul Dano and Jude Law in Olivier Assayas' political thriller "The Wizard of the Kremlin," and Ben Kingsley and Anthony Mackie in "Desert Warrior"imdb+1.
The Arab Spectacular program highlights Annemarie Jacir's "Palestine 36," a Red Sea-funded historical drama about a photographer documenting the 1936 Arab revolt in Mandate Palestine, which also serves as Palestine's official submission for the Academy Awardsimdb+2.
The festival runs through December 13 and features films from Asia, Africa, and the Arab world competing for the Yusr Awards, with additional entries including Mamoru Hosoda's anime "Scarlet" and Haifaa Al Mansour's "Unidentified"imdb+2.

The Red Sea International Film Festival announced its fifth edition lineup Tuesday, featuring a star-studded selection that opens December 4 with Rowan Athale's boxing biopic "Giant," starring Amir El Masry and Pierce Brosnan. The 10-day festival in Jeddah will showcase films featuring major Hollywood stars including Angelina Jolie, Paul Dano, Jude Law, Anthony Mackie, and Ben Kingsley, running through December 13 in Saudi Arabia's coastal city.imdb+2

International Spectacular Headlines Festival Program

The International Spectacular strand anchors the festival's most anticipated titles, led by Alice Winocour's drama "Couture" starring Angelina Jolie. Other marquee entries include Olivier Assayas' political thriller-comedy "The Wizard of the Kremlin," featuring Paul Dano and Jude Law, and Rupert Wyatt's Saudi Arabia-set drama "Desert Warrior" with Ben Kingsley and Anthony Mackie.imdb+1

The lineup also features Mamoru Hosoda's animated film "Scarlet," based on Shakespeare's "Hamlet," and the Spanish dance documentary "Farruquito: A Flamenco Story". Two special screenings round out the international selection: Oliver Laxe's "Sirât" and Kaouther Ben Hania's "The Voice of Hind Rajab".variety+1

Regional Cinema Takes Center Stage

The Arab Spectacular program highlights Palestinian filmmaker Annemarie Jacir's "Palestine 36," a Red Sea-funded historical drama depicting a photographer documenting rebellion in Mandate Palestine during the 1936 Arab revolt. The film, which serves as Palestine's official submission for the Academy Awards, stars Jeremy Irons, Hiam Abbass, and Saleh Bakri.imdb+3

"Our choice of 'Giant' as the opening feature for this fifth edition represents a celebration of regional talents who have made their mark on the international film stage," said Faisal Baltyuor, CEO of Red Sea Film Foundation. The opening film chronicles British-Yemeni boxing champion Prince Naseem 'Naz' Hamed's rise from Sheffield to world champion status, with Sylvester Stallone serving as executive producer.deadline+2

The festival's competition section welcomes films from Asia, Africa, and the Arab world, maintaining its commitment to showcasing diverse voices and emerging talent from these regions. Additional Arab Spectacular entries include Haifaa Al Mansour's "Unidentified" and a Saudi romance titled "A Matter of Life and Death" set in Jeddah.variety+3

Sources (39)