Yusr Award Winners Revealed, Icons Viola Davis and Priyanka Chopra Jonas Honoured
Johnny Depp’s MODI, THREE DAYS ON THE WING OF MADNESS screened as Final Festival Gala
The Fourth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) came to a crescendo with the naming of the winners of this year’s prestigious Yusr Awards, Red Sea Honouree Awards for icons Viola Davis and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and a closing gala screening of Johnny Depp’s second directorial venture MODI, THREE DAYS ON THE WING OF MADNESS, a Red Sea International Film Financing project.
Davis – whose award was presented by Hanaa Alomair, and Chopra, who received her award from Sarah Jessica Parker – join Emily Blunt, Mona Zaki, Vin Diesel and Aamir Khan as 2024 Red Sea Honourees, with Sarah Jessica Parker; Dev Patel John Boyega; Abdullah Al-Sadhan, Ameer Karara; Eiza González; Mohamed Sami; Mai Omar; ; Nick Jonas; Faisal Aldokhi; Fawzia Ahmed and Fatma Safar, Meshal Al Jaser; Sarocha Chankimha AKA Freen, Rebecca Patricia Armstrong AKA Becky, and Ala Faden in attendance at the Awards ceremony. It was announced that BETTER MAN, the innovative Robbie Williams biopic from director, co-writer and co-producer Michael Gracey will close the festival as its final Gala Screening on 14th December.
Two juries led by Jury President Spike Lee deliberated to finally select winners across 14 categories. 16 feature films in competition – united under the theme ‘Home’ – as well as 48 films selected across New Saudi, New Cinema, Arab Shorts and International Shorts programs, were in the running for the coveted awards.
RED PATH (Tunisia) directed by Lotfi Achour was awarded the prestigious Golden Yusr for Best Feature Film. An extraordinary journey into the wounded psyche of a child in a war zone, RED PATH is the third feature film by director Lotfi Achour, and it had its world premiere at the Locarno Festival in Switzerland. With this film, we observe the development of Tunisian cinema, its craftsmanship, and its distinctive presence in this edition of the festival.
The 2024 Festival celebrated its biggest year across every metric – welcoming 6773 accredited guests and selling more than 30,000 tickets across all screenings and In Conversation events.
Johnny Depp-directed MODI, THREE DAYS ON THE WING OF MADNESS is a 72-hour whirlwind through the streets of WWI Paris which sees Italian bohemian artist Modigliani attempt to outmanoeuvre bombs, policemen, girlfriends and critics in an increasingly desperate search for a home for his art.
Jomana Al-Rashid, Chairwoman of the Red Sea Film Foundation, said: “We are honored to have welcomed the world to The New Home of Film here in Jeddah, hosted for the first time at our Festival’s iconic new home in Al Balad. Over the past 8 days, we have celebrated the transformative power of cinema and championed diverse narratives from across the globe.
This year’s Festival showcased an extraordinary lineup of 122 films from 85 countries, fostering meaningful connections, groundbreaking deals, dynamic partnerships, and forward-thinking innovations at the Red Sea Souk market. With such milestones achieved, the future of film in the region is undeniably bright, and we are proud to be at the forefront of this exciting journey.”
Mohammed Asseri, CEO Red Sea Film Foundation said: “We have forged new partnerships and announced new initiatives to support emerging voices in new regions at this year’s Festival, the fruits of which will be seen in future editions of the Red Sea International Film Festival.”
Shivani Pandya Malhotra, RSIFF Managing Director said: “In 2024, 50% of films at the Festival were world or international premieres, with 46 world premieres, 15 international premieres and 53 MENA premieres. That filmmakers chose to share their work with the world or the region for the first time at the Red Sea International Film Festival emphasises its role as The New Home of Film. The variety of films at this year’s Festival takes the number of countries represented across the four editions to 85 – and we look forward to growing that number again in 2025”.
The 2024 Red Sea International Film Festival was supported by:
Principal Sponsors: Saudi, Welcome to Arabia; MBC and Genesis Mohamad Yusuf Naghi.
Official Sponsors: TikTok; Saudia; Film AlUla; Chopard; SRMG and STC Group.
Strategic Sponsors of the Red Sea Souk: Cultural Development Fund and NEOM.
Support Sponsors: Nova Water; Mermaid Salon; Telfaz Studios and Getty Images.
Please see below the full list of winners:
Asharq Documentary
Awarded for Best Documentary In Competition – $10 000 prize
Winner: Santiago Mazar for STATE OF SILENCE
Chopard Rising Talent Trophy
Winner: Roula Dakheellahah
Film AlUla Audience Award:
Winner: LITTLE JAFFNA – Directed by Lawrence Valin
Film AlUla Best Saudi Film Award
With a $50 000 prize
Winner: HOBAL – Directed by Abdulaziz Alshlahei
Shorts Competition
Silver Yusr for Best Short Film
With a $12 500 prize
Winner: ALAZAR – Directed by Baiza Hailu Lemma
Golden Yusr for Best Short Film
With a $25 000 prize
Winner: HATCH – Directed by Alireza Kazemipour and Panta Mosleh
Features
Best Cinematic Contribution
Winner: TO KILL A MONGOLIAN HORSE / Tao Qiu
Best Actor
Winner: Mahmoud Bakri / TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Best Actress
Winner: Mariam Sherif / SNOW WHITE
Best Screenplay
With a $10 000 prize
Winner: SONGS OF ADAM / Oday Rasheed
Best Director
With a $10 000 prize
Winner: Lotfi Achour / RED PATH
Jury Prize
With a $10 000 prize
Winner: SEEKING HAVEN FOR MR. RAMBO / Khaled Mansour
Silver Yusr for Best Feature Film
With a $30 000 prize
Winner: TO A LAND UNKNOWN / Mahdi Fleifel
Golden Yusr for Best Feature Film
With a $100 000
Winner: RED PATH / Lotfi Achour