Jeddah: The Red Sea Souk Project Market ended Wednesday with an awards ceremony honoring projects across development, production, and post-production tracks. The event, part of the fifth annual Red Sea International Film Festival, drew filmmakers, producers, and supporting entities from Saudi Arabia and abroad.
According to Saudi Press Agency, awards included production grants, technical and advisory support, and opportunities to participate in international professional programs that embrace young talent and develop their filmmaking skills.
Red Sea Film Foundation Chief Executive Officer Faisal Baltyuor said the Red Sea Souk continues to cement its growing status on the global film scene, noting that this year's edition nearly doubled participant numbers from last year. A total of 166 presenting entities participated across 90 pavilions with the event spotlighting the best new projects from both emerging and established creators.
Red Sea Film Foundation Managing Director Shivani Pandya Malhotra highlighted that this year's Red Sea Souk winners represent some of the most creative and distinguished talents across the Arab world, Africa, and Asia, shaping the future of cinema in these regions.
Many winning projects have reached broad audiences worldwide, Malhotra stated, affirming continued support to pioneering film projects through an integrated ecosystem, helping bring compelling regional and global stories to the screen.
The Red Sea Souk spotlighted 40 selected feature-length films and series, providing financial support at various stages, including development, production, and post-production. Special support was also offered through The Lodge and the SeriesLab programs.
The Red Sea Fund supported 10 awards granted by the jury: two for projects in production, six for projects in development, and two for series projects, along with cash and in-kind prizes from international award partners in the film industry.
The Project Market is one of the festival's key professional initiatives, fostering a vibrant film production environment, supporting content development pipelines, and creating collaboration opportunities among filmmakers. It reinforces Saudi Arabia's position as a regional hub for cinema and promotes talent on the international stage.