During the fifth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) in Jeddah, Faisal Baltyuor, the new CEO of the Red Sea Film Foundation, is leading Saudi Arabia’s growing film industry toward global fame. The event will take place in the historic Al Balad district from December 4 to 13, 2025. It will feature over 100 films from more than 50 countries, with a focus on stories from the Middle East and Africa, as well as celebrity glamor. Baltyuor’s leadership is a turning point because it combines his experience as a producer, jury member, and festival sponsor to create a long-lasting entertainment system.
Baltyuor talks about how he is involved in the foundation’s work. He moved to Jeddah to oversee projects like the Red Sea Fund, Red Sea Labs, and script development programs that work with top schools. He talks about how the Red Sea Souk has helped turn ideas into award-winning movies, like “Mandoob” (Night Courier), which became famous around the world after starting there. The festival’s main goals are to find and support new talent and make connections in the industry. There are also red carpets with stars like Michael Caine, Adrien Brody, and Uma Thurman.
The opening gala showed “Giant,” a boxing biopic about a British-Yemeni boxer. This set the tone for identity and migration themes that ran through 111 films, 38 of which were directed by women. Angelina Jolie’s “Couture,” Saudi productions like “Unidentified,” and classics in the “Treasures” lineup with live music from Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton are some of the most well-known parts. Indian stars Rekha and Kriti Sanon brought Bollywood style to red carpet events, where they mingled with Hollywood stars.
