The first two cycles received 916 submissions and include 13 post-production and 17 production projects from Saudi Arabia, the Arab world, Africa and Asia
The Red Sea Fund, a programme of the Red Sea Film Foundation, has selected 30 film projects across its first two funding cycles of 2026, continuing its year-round support for filmmakers from Saudi Arabia, the Arab world, Africa and Asia.
The two cycles attracted a combined 916 submissions, with 13 projects selected for post-production support and 17 projects selected for production support.
Several projects from Cycle 1 have already received international recognition. Ben’imana by Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo won the Caméra d’Or at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, where it screened in Un Certain Regard alongside Strawberries by Laïla Marrakchi.
At the Toronto International Film Festival, Angh by Theja Rio received the Platform Award and premiered alongside Four Seasons in Java by Kamila Andini. Al Baraneya by Ashgan El-Hamus screened at Venice, while Hearing by Lê Bảo competed at the Locarno Film Festival.
13 Projects in Post-Production
Cycle 1 received 220 submissions, making it the largest post-production cycle since the Fund was established. The selected projects include films from countries across Asia, Africa and the Arab world.
The 13 projects are:
- Hearing — Lê Bảo
- Who Stole My Cross? — Park Syeyoung
- Al Baraneya — Ashgan El-Hamus
- Ben’imana — Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo
- Angh — Theja Rio
- Bells of Kabul — Chabname Zariab
- Four Seasons in Java — Kamila Andini
- Grey Glow — Michèle Tyan
- Selvi — Sailesh Rathnakumar
- Guardian of the Island — Sewmehon Yismaw Sendekie
- On the Donkey Route — Ahmad Al-Bazz
- Tomorrow Will Be Rain… — Cemal Alomar
- Strawberries — Laïla Marrakchi
17 Projects Selected for Production
Cycle 2 received 696 submissions, with 17 projects selected across feature fiction, feature documentary and short fiction.
Five Saudi projects are included in the cycle:
- Remind Me to Forget — Lama Jamjoom
- Green Corpse — Khaled Zidan
- Maria’s Mansion — Raed Alsemari
- Bait Bahar — Yaser Hammad
- Microwave — Mishary Almazyaad
The remaining selected projects include Daughters of the Sea, The Northern Bald Ibis, Hum, Pieces, Gaza Forever, Lotus Feet, The Side Effects of Trusting Life, The Scapegoat, Leg, The Last Oasis, Let Us Fight and Tarfaya.
Faisal Baltyuor, CEO of the Red Sea Film Foundation, said the two cycles reflect the Red Sea Fund’s focus on identifying distinctive projects and supporting filmmakers at important stages of their creative journeys.
The Fund said the selections demonstrate its continued commitment to helping filmmakers develop projects from production through completion and connect with audiences internationally.
