Fatima Al-Bawami Photo RSIFF / GETTYImages
Final huge day of screenings of fabulous films, with a couple we have been saving for last and lots of chances to catch up on ones you have missed. There is also a special celebratory screening of Elephant God, one of Indian director Satyajit Ray’s greatest masterpieces.
Yes, the prizes are handed out today december 13 and the official part of the festival draws to a close. But it’s not over yet!!! There are still two more days of repeat screenings and immersive experiences for the public to enjoy. Check the festival website for times, venues and tickets for screenings on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The VERY LAST FILM of the festival will be the much-anticipated Hindi film ’83, screening as a gala on Wednesday night at 21.00, about the Indian cricket team’s victory over the “unbeatable” West Indies that put India back on the cricketing map. This will be a super-special event, especially – but not only! – for lovers of the gentleman’s game. Again, check the website for more information, details of the screening and ticket purchase. Now, back to today…
Talent Days
Carnaval City w/ Wael Abu Mansour
10:00 – 12:00
VENUE: Souk Cinema
Red Sea Competition Awards
Award Ceremony
17:00 – 18:00
Red Sea Gala Theatre
Vox cinemas Al Balad
In a glittering ceremony, the heads of our three competition juries – Giuseppe Tornatore, Marwan Hamad and Laurie Anderson - will announce the winners of the Red Sea, New Saudi Cinema and Immersive competitions. The prizes are substantial as well as prestigious: the Golden Yusr for best feature in the Red Sea competition comes with US$100,000, with best director receiving US$30,000 and an additional award of a jury prize of US $20,000. Many of the film-makers will be present. Don’t forget to vote for the Audience Award, which can go to a film in any of the sections showing new work! Your favourite film-maker is relying on you!
Closing night gala
Bara Al Manha
20.30 – 22.35
Red Sea Gala Theatre
Vox cinemas Al Balad
World premiere of Egyptian film-maker Amr Manaha’s comedy-drama, an Arabic-language film for the whole family. School misfit Nour, an orphan of 13 with poor eyesight and a bad habit of lying, ventures into a supposedly haunted house to impress his classmates. What he finds there will change his life.
Red Sea Treasure: Satyajit Ray
Elephant God
21.00 – 10.57
Vox cinemas,
Al Balad 4
A true detective is never on holiday. In one of the great Indian director’s most popular films, detective Felu goes to Benares to take the waters and finds himself embroiled in a search for a stolen statue of Ganesh.
New Saudi/New Cinema
NourShams and My Vibe
15.30 – 17.01
Vox cinemas,
Al Balad 1
When cinema comes to Jeddah, the lives of three teenagers are transformed. World premiere of Faizah Ambah’s documentary..
International Spectacular
Belfast
18.15 – 19.58
Vox cinemas,
Al Balad 1
Kenneth Branagh’s own childhood provides the raw material for this surprisingly lovely and light-hearted - but powerful - story of living with the Northern Irish Troubles in the ‘60s.
Episodic
Mister8
18.15 – 19.30
Vox cinemas,
Al Balad 3
Playful, award-winning Finnish comedy about an executive woman who has a different man for every night of the week – until she meets a man who isn’t prepared to fit in.
All sections: repeat screenings
Rehana Maryam Moor
11.45-13.37
Vox cinemas,
Al Balad 3
From Bangladesh, director Abdullah Mohammad Saad comes with an edge-of-your-seat drama about a medical professor determined to expose a male colleague’s abuse of students.
Intregalde
12.00- 13.49
Vox cinemas,
Al Balad 2
Radu Muntean’s comic account of three squabbling aid workers in remote Romania who meet their match in a crafty elderly local.
The Exam
12.15 – 13.49
Vox cinemas,
Al Balad 1
Rojan, a schoolgirl in Iraqi Kurdistan, must pass her exams or be forced into marriage; her older sister resolves to help her. By Shawkat Amin Korki.
Take me to the Cinema
15.00- 16.20
Vox cinemas,
Al Balad 4
Documentary-maker Albaqer Jaafar follows former Iraqi soldier Nassif, whose obsessive search for his pre-war favourite movie - Papillon, with Steve McQueen – shields him from what Baghdad has become.
Apples
15.15 – 16.50
Vox cinemas,
Al Balad 3
Struck down by a pandemic that causes total amnesia, an anonymous man is consigned to a recovery programme where he has to construct new memories from an invented life. Greek director Christos Nikou’s dark fantasy is surreal and utterly beguiling.
Earwig
17.45 – 19.44
Vox cinemas,
Al Balad 4
In an isolated, shadowy house, the dutiful Albert takes care of a little girl with very strange teeth. Visionary director Lucile Hadzihalilovic takes us into the dark unknown.
A Tale of Love and Desire
18.30-20.17
Vox cinemas,
Al Balad 2
Farah, a young Parisian of Algerian origin, introduces Tunisian immigrant Ahmed to a sensuous Arab literature he never imagined existed. Leyla Bouzid delves into themes of love, fear and exile.
A Hero
21.15 -23.27
Vox cinemas,
Al Balad 1
Iranian multiple Oscar-winner Asghar Farhadi shows a small scam become a huge confidence trick, when a hapless thief is turned overnight into an internet hero.
Broken Keys
21.30 – 23.25
Vox cinemas,
Al Balad 3
A young Syrian musician tries to sell his precious piano to finance his escape to Europe, but the plan is almost foiled when Islamic State find the instrument and try to destroy it.
Junoon
21.45 – 23.20
Vox cinemas,
Al Balad 2
Maan Bin Abdulrahmane’s adventure-horror follows a Saudi Arabian would-be vlogger who travels to Southern California in search of paranormal activity – and finds it.
Red Sea: Immersive
Our journey into current VR film-making continues at Hayy Jameel.
One-hour slots available at 11, 1215, 1330, 1515, 1630, 1745, 1930, 2045 and 2200.
