Red Sea International Film Festival

مهرجان البحر الأحمر السينمائي الدولي

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Arts & CultureJeddah
DatesDates TBA · Usually DecemberCheck locally before booking
Duration10 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forPerformance, exhibitionsAs Saudi Arabia's flagship film festival
Language["ar"]Currency: SAR
CategoryArts & CultureFestival type
The story

Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah

The Red Sea International Film Festival is Saudi Arabia's leading film event, launched in 2019 and staged in Jeddah's historic Al-Balad district. Its 2025 fifth edition ran December 4 to 13, screening 138 films from 67 countries and awarding the festival's own Yusr Awards, with a focus on emerging Saudi, Arab, and international storytelling talent.

The Red Sea International Film Festival was established in 2019 as a deliberate effort to revive Saudi Arabia's cinema industry, arriving shortly after the kingdom lifted its decades-long ban on public movie theaters in 2018.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

As Saudi Arabia's flagship film festival, Red Sea International was built explicitly to revive and grow the kingdom's cinema industry, which had operated for decades without public movie theaters before their reintroduction in 2018

02

The mystery stays covered

Hosted by the dedicated Red Sea Film Festival Foundation and staged within Al-Balad's UNESCO World Heritage old town, the festival pairs cutting-edge international programming, its 2025 edition alone screened 138 films from 67 countries, with a deliberate focus on discovering new Saudi and Arab filmmaking talent, giving it both artistic credibility and a clear national development mission

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The festival draws on Al-Balad's identity as a historic Hejazi trading and pilgrim gateway district

Water and renewal

Living ritual

using its UNESCO-listed heritage architecture as a backdrop for a thoroughly modern celebration of new cinema and storytelling

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually December

Getting around

Use the city as a planning base, then confirm the exact venue, route, or meeting point close to the date.

What to wear

Smart casual for daytime screenings and industry panels; formal or red-carpet-appropriate attire for the awards ceremony and opening or closing night events.

Safety

At Red Sea International Film Festival, agree on a meeting point and plan food, water and the return route before crowds thicken.

Where to stay

Choose lodging by the part of Jeddah you will actually use, not only by the cheapest room.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

["ar"] · SAR

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map21.49 N, 39.19 EOpen in Google Maps

Jeddah, Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia

Nearest airportJED — King Abdulaziz
TransportUse the city as a planning base, then confirm the exact venue, route, or meeting point close to the date.
Stay areaChoose lodging by the part of Jeddah you will actually use, not only by the cheapest room.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Jeddah via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Jeddah, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for December.Compare faresFestival gearSmart casual for daytime screenings and industry panels; formal or red-carpet-appropriate attire for the awards ceremony and opening or closing night events.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Saudi Arabia and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Red Sea International Film Festival?

Red Sea International Film Festival is listed for Past edition: 4–13 December 2025. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Red Sea International Film Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

10 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Jeddah, Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLredseafilmfest.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually December
Source statusOfficial source linked
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