The one-and-only Spike Lee is set to lead a new mentorship program in collaboration with Red Sea Film Festival (RSFF) in Saudi Arabia. The new initiative, which is expected to kick off between April 30 and May 3–across four days–will see the academy-award winning director share his decades-spanning knowledge to a lucky cohort of 15 up-and-coming filmmakers from the Middle East and Asia.
An open call announced on Instagram is inviting emerging talents from Saudi Arabia, Asia, and the African continent to take part in what the organizers describe as “a rare opportunity to learn from one of the most influential voices in cinema.” Set in Jeddah—the city that also hosts the Red Sea Film Festival—the program will feature a series of workshops designed to nurture promising new voices. Participants will gain valuable industry insights and sharpen their storytelling skills through collaborative sessions and one-on-one mentorship.
“From story structure and character development to visual style and directing techniques, the program is built to inspire, challenge, and empower a new generation of filmmakers ready to take their careers to the next level,” reads a description of the program on RSFF’s official website.
What’s more, filmmakers traveling in from outside Jeddah can expect their accommodation and travel costs to be fully covered.
In other news, RSFF’s fifth edition will be held from Dec. 4-13 in the UNESCO-protected Al Balad, in Jeddah, expected to attract the region and world’s most coveted and looked-up-to filmmakers, actors, producers, and industry heavyweights. With Lee’s mentorship program kicking things off earlier in the year, this next edition is already shaping up to be one of the festival’s most ambitious yet.
