The Red Sea International Film Festival offers a platform for filmmakers and film lovers to honor films. Through films, the festival connects cultures, expands horizons, and welcomes stories from all walks of life. In its 3rd edition, it features a diverse collection of narratives, highlighting its theme ‘Your Festival, Your Story’.
Here are some of our favorite flicks from the 3rd edition!
Four daughters
Directed by Kaouther Ben Hania
Four Daughters tells the story of the Chikhaoui family and how two of Olfa Houmani’s four teenage daughters left Tunisia to join and fight with Daesh in Libya. The brilliance of the remarkable docu-fiction lies in how Ben Hania is able to blend fact and fiction. In doing so, she invites the audience to become the fifth sister.
COPA 71
Directed by Rachel Ramsay and James Erskine
Copa 71 documents the story of the first Women’s World Cup in August 1971, which FIFA still refuses to recognize. It gathered women’s teams from England, Argentina, France, Denmark, and Italy to face off in Mexico. The documentary is intensely empowering and highlights the heinous sexism that these women faced.
Inshallah A Boy
Directed by Amjad Al Rasheed
Nawall wakes up to find her husband dead next to her. She quickly realizes her troubles have just begun. She finds herself under attack from her brother-in-law, who wants to claim half her home, custody of her daughter, and immediate payment of debts of her husband. Al Rasheed does an incredible job of holding up a mirror to the problems of Arab women. In fact, the realism in the film is what touches the hearts of the viewers.
Behind The Mountains
Directed by Mohamed Ben Attia
Rafik is a desperate man who was just released from prison, where he served four years. He is now convinced he can fly and is determined to prove to his son Yassine that his vision is real. The film is filled with picturesque scenes of Tunisia’s diverse and natural beauty. In addition, the story of the film is truly captivating and keeps the viewer on the edge of their seats. Ben Attia does an incredible job with the plot twist in the film.
The Teacher
Directed by Farah Nabuls
Palestinian teacher Basem forms a deep connection with Adam, one of his students, while also developing an unexpected bond with British social worker Lisa. Simultaneously, a Palestinian resistance group hold an Israeli soldier captive. The film does an incredible job of depicting the “normal” of Palestinians. It showcased the harsh reality that they face every single day, which proves incredibly relevant today.
In The Shadow of Beirut
Directed by Stephen Gerard Kelly, and Garry Keane
In The Shadow of Beirut explores the slum districts of Sabra and Shatila, which are on the outskirts of Lebanon’s capital, Beirut. It is where individuals have been seeking refuge for generations. These towns are lawless and lack any governmental supervision. The film did a wonderful job of conveying the ever-growing problems in the area. While it remains factual and objective, Kelly and Keane still leave space for the audience to get emotionally invested in the film.
