Red Sea International Film Festival celebrates Saudi Cinema Nights in Jeddah

The Red Sea International Film Festival presents Saudi Cinema Nights – a showcase of new Saudi films at MUVI Cinema Mall of Arabia, Jeddah June 16–17, 2021. 

The two-day event will see premieres alongside short films in a program of recent works by Saudi directors. Audiences will enjoy the world premiere of Carnaval City (2021) and the Arab premiere of 40 Years and One Night (2020) in the presence of the directors and casts. 

On Wednesday, 16 June, 40 Years and One Night (2020) arrives on the Saudi big screen following its world premiere at Malmö Arab Film Festival. Directed by Mohammed Alholayyil, 40 Years and One Night tells the story of one family, an accident, and a life-changing night of uncovered secrets. The sparse and tense family drama received US$ 500,000 of funding by the Red Sea International Film Festival.

The following night, Thursday, 17 June, Carnaval City (2020), directed by Wael Abu Mansour, makes its world premiere. When Masoud sets out with Salma on a journey with no destination and no plans to return, the road into the desert leads to an abandoned theme park and a reckoning with the self. After they break down in the desert, the adventure takes an unexpected turn.

The world premiere is preceded by a curated selection of recent Saudi shorts, a program that brings together some of the Kingdom's most exciting emerging directors and actors:

...And when do I sleep? (2020) directed by Husam Alsayed, Ongoing Lullaby (2020) directed by Hisham Fadel, The girls who burned the night (2020) directed by Sarah Mesfer, and Goin' South (2019) directed by Mohammed Alhamoud

The two-day public program brings together filmmakers, film industry, and film lovers from across the Kingdom in Jeddah, the home of the Red Sea Film Foundation, for a celebration of the most exciting emerging voices in the Saudi film scene. Limited tickets are available to purchase from the MUVI box office, Mall of Arabia. 

Schedule

16 June at MUVI Mall of Arabia

7 pm | Saudi Cinema Nights feature program | 40 Years and One Night | Arab world premiere screening, followed by Q+A

17 June at MUVI Mall of Arabia

7 pm | Saudi Cinema Nights short film program | Screenings followed by Q+A ...And when do I sleep? Ongoing Lullaby The girls who burned the night  Goin' South

9:15 pm | Saudi Cinema Nights feature program | Carnaval City | world premiere screening, followed by Q+A.