Despite its inaugural edition having been postponed due to coronavirus, Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) is still as present as ever. The organisation just announced a new short film competition to support young filmmakers in Saudi Arabia.
Through a partnership with The Alliance Française, The Consulate General of France in Jeddah and the French Embassy in Riyadh, RSIFF calls on 18 to 25-year-old filmmakers to participate in a new ‘48Hr Film Challenge’. Yes, that means aspiring filmmakers will write, shoot and produce a short film in just two days.
Set to take place through October, the competition will be led by none other than Hend Sabry, who will be heading up the competition’s jury as its president. Alongside her on the panel are directors Lisa Sallustio and Brice Cauvin as well as writer Faizah Saleh Ambah and producer Mohammed Al Hamoud.
“The competition is about creating new content, invigorating the burgeoning Saudi film community, and equipping the next generation with the knowledge and experience to create their own work. Despite the challenges of this year, it is vitally important to continue to inspire and push the next generation of filmmakers.” said Hend Sabry in a statement.
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Filmmakers will be invited to take part of three days of mentorship this month, which will be followed by an intensive 48-hours where selected teams would complete the project. Screenings of the end-results will take place in November. The winner will score a residency at Paris’s prestigious La Fémis in 2021.
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To participate, Saudi nationals or residents are asked to put together a team of two to five filmmakers to apply, and upon selection will participate in a three-day online briefing, mentoring and workshop programme after which the teams will write, shoot, produce and edit the film.
Main image: ‘The Book of Sun’ by Faris Godus
