The Red Sea International Film Festival (Red Sea IFF) has released the line-up of films, qualifying in its Arab Shorts Competition. They will be screened from December 5 to 14 in Jeddah, highlighting poignant tales traversing cultural, social, and personal landscapes.

Now in its fourth edition, the platform brings short-form films to the silver screen. This year, 15 shorts have been selected, featuring talent from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Somalia, Sudan, Jordan, and Lebanon.

The Arab Shorts Competition provides emerging and established regional talent a credible platform to achieve international renown, facilitating access to global audiences and industry professionals.

Antoine Khalife, Director of Arab Programs & Film Classics, said: “Storytelling is a powerful tool to preserve and translate rich human experiences beyond the limitations of language and culture.

“By curating a dynamic and diverse program of short films, the Red Sea International Film Festival’s Arab Shorts paints a vivid portrait of experiences shaping the Arab world.

This year’s programme centres around themes of identity, memory, and belonging. Alongside amplifying the diversity of Arab cinema, the initiative caters to mounting demand worldwide for diverse and authentic storytelling.

GWI consumer data confirms that more than three-fourths of Gen Z and Millennial audiences watch foreign language TV shows or films, underscoring a growing appetite for multicultural storytelling.

Red Sea IFF has screened more than 120 Arab and Saudi films between 2021 and 2023 alone.

The titles selected for the Arab Shorts programme are:

“Fragments of Life” directed by Anis Ben Dali

In a remote mountain village of children, Slim, a fatherless boy with asthma, struggles with isolation and a rivalry with his reluctant caretaker, Marwan. When Marwan discovers Slim's puppet father figure and steals it, Slim's anger ignites a quest for revenge.

“Saint Rose” by Zayn Alexandre

An unhappy housewife seeks refuge in unhealthy coping mechanisms while her husband takes charge of preparations for their daughter’s upcoming engagement ceremony.

“The Signal” by Nasser Alqattan

A young man stops at a traffic light and becomes a social media sensation. When a group of men approaches him for answers, he remains silent, prompting them to call the police to uncover his story.

“Shams” by Adam Rayan

A young boy grapples with the death of his father as his mother sells his beloved camel for money, forcing him to confront a difficult choice that he can ultimately control.

“Chikha” by Ayoub Layoussifi and Zahoua Raji

Seventeen-year-old Fatine lives in Azemmour, Morocco, with her mother, Nadia, a chikha (singer of Aïta). After passing her baccalaureate exams, Fatine faces a dilemma: follow her family’s artistic tradition or pursue a safer life with someone who disdains her heritage.

“African Family Dinner” by Ibrahim Mursal

Mona, a Norwegian blonde, meets her Ghanaian friend's family for the first time at a dinner. What begins as a simple gathering quickly escalates into one of the most awkward introductions ever.

“In Three Layers of Darkness” by Houcem Slouli

The film follows Ghassen, a young Tunisian man navigating the challenges of obtaining a visa. The short explores themes of immigration and perseverance against bureaucratic injustice for the fundamental right to move freely.

“Children of Barzagh” by Ahmed Khattab

In war-torn Gaza, Noor rescues a dog, leading her on a journey where the boundaries between life and death blur.

“Mera, Mera, Mera” by Khaled Zidan

In a neighborhood facing demolition in Jeddah, Saeed loses his ability to speak, uttering only the word ‘Mera’, which leads him to uncover a mysterious truth.

“Malika” by Maram Taibah

A rebellious Saudi girl embarks on a magical quest to retrieve her dying grandmother’s lost crown from beasts, discovering the true meaning of being a queen.

“Land of God” by Imad Benomar

Hassan, a civil servant, Malika, a gendarme, and an intern must deliver coffins to two families. When Hassan realises he has mixed up the bodies, he panics and hides the mistake, causing their mission to take an unexpected turn.

“Nemshi?” by Assaf Al Rousan

After his father's death, dedicated family man Emad struggles with overwhelming emotions that jeopardise his sense of purpose and connection to life.

“Fizr”by Rani Nasr

After clashing with the mayor, who shot his cat, Issam flees to the valley. In a cabin, he wrestles with anger as his friend Raafat urges silence, forcing a choice between loyalty and survival.

“Zahra” by Hadi Shatat

The film follows a clothing factory worker in her final days of pregnancy whose need for money to afford a C-section leads her to uncover the tragic realities of her community.

“One Last Time” by Karim Rahbani

Toufic, a loner in his 80s, faces a late-in-life crisis when a neighbour mistakenly visits him, reigniting his passion for life. – TradeArabia News Service