Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – At the prestigious Red Sea International Film Festival, Lebanese Canadian director Katia Jarjoura’s “Robbing Beirut” clinched the top distinction in the Red Sea Souk project market, winning $75,000 for its compelling in-development narrative that mirrors Lebanon’s economic turmoil. The Red Sea Souk showcased a diverse array of 31 feature films and seven series projects, reflecting a rich tapestry of global cinematic potential.
“Robbing Beirut” tells the gripping tale of a woman compelled to rob a bank after being denied access to her own $30,000 savings, which she desperately needs for her sister’s medical treatment. The project is Jarjoura’s debut fiction feature, following her acclaimed documentary works such as “Goodbye Mubarak,” “The Road to Kerbala,” and “Escape,” which depicts the lives of Syrian artists in exile.
The runner-up positions saw Indonesian filmmaker Makbul Mubarak’s “Watch It Burn” and Afghan director Aboozar Amini’s “Tahmina” each garnering $20,000 prizes for their unique stories. Mubarak, known for his Venice Film Festival-debut “Autobiography,” explores the difficulties of an Indonesian family striving to sustain their clove farm amidst a threatening nickel mining boom. Meanwhile, Amini’s “Tahmina,” set against the backdrop of Kabul’s spate of suicide attacks, follows a woman endowed with mystical powers derived from her lineage as a Persian goddess.
The in-development jury panel, comprised of producers Elisa Fernanda Pirir from Guatemala, Lebanon’s Georges Schoucair, and France’s Louise Bellicaud, selected the winners based on creativity, relevance, and potential impact in the international cinema landscape.
In the Work in Progress/Post-Production segment, the jury, including Filipino filmmaker and cinematographer Martika Ramirez Escobar, Directors’ Fortnight Managing Director Christophe Leparc, and British Moroccan director Fyzal Boulifa, awarded the top $40,000 post-production prize to Georgian director Levan Koguashvili for “Guria.” Koguashvili’s project depicts a forgotten town in Georgia during the 1990s post-Soviet era.
Additional praise was given to Chinese artist and filmmaker Qiu JiongJiong, who received a $15,000 special mention for his black comedy “Fuxi,” which navigates through bizarre tales from Sichuan province.
The SeriesLab section, evaluated by a distinguished panel including producer Diego Ramírez Schrempp, Jennifer Chen from Channel Zero Studios, and Lebanese screenwriter Nadia Tabbara, awarded Lebanese director Estephan Khattar the $10,000 SeriesLab Jury prize for “Saria Othman Needs No Man.” This novel series follows a middle-aged woman’s clandestine journey into acting, reflecting on themes of autonomy and the quest for self-fulfillment.
Emerging talents from the Red Sea Lodge, a collaboration with TorinoFilmLab, also received accolades, including Mahamed Al’Omda’s “Blue Card,” Lydia Matata’s “Pepo Kali,” Jawahine Zentar’s “The Silent Ones,” and Rulan Hasan’s “Close Rose Close,” demonstrating the festival’s commitment to nurturing fresh cinematic voices.
With several sponsors such as the Arab Cinema Center and Rotana Studios offering additional financial and in-kind support, the festival, which ran from December 5 to 14, highlighted its pivotal role in promoting film culture and development across the region and beyond.
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