Red Sea Film Festival cancels 2026 edition, plans return next year

Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival has cancelled its sixth edition, originally scheduled to take place from December 3 to 12, with organisers announcing that the event will return in the final quarter of 2027.

In a statement, the Red Sea Film Foundation said the decision followed a comprehensive review of several factors, including the logistical requirements of organising an international event of this scale.

The foundation said the festival would return with a renewed vision and a programme celebrating cinema and filmmakers from Saudi Arabia, the wider region and around the world.

The cancellation comes amid heightened regional tensions. Earlier this year, the Saudi Arabian Formula One Grand Prix, scheduled for April 17 to 19 in Jeddah, was also cancelled following the fallout from the war in Iran.

Saudi Arabia has also faced escalating tensions with Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who have targeted Saudi cities, oil infrastructure and shipping routes in the Red Sea. However, the festival organisers have not directly attributed the cancellation to the regional security situation.

Established in 2019, the Red Sea Film Festival has developed into a major platform for Arab cinema and international film industry collaboration. Its growth has coincided with Saudi Arabia’s efforts to expand its entertainment sector and diversify its economy under the Vision 2030 initiative.

The festival’s accompanying film market, the Red Sea Souk, has attracted representatives from major international companies, including Netflix, Amazon and Disney, alongside regional media organisations.

The cancellation also follows changes within the festival’s leadership. Former general manager Shivani Pandya Malhotra, who played a significant role in establishing the event, departed in June, and her position has yet to be filled.

Faisal Baltyuor, who was appointed CEO of the Red Sea Film Foundation in May 2025, has emphasised the organisation’s broader role in supporting filmmaking beyond its annual festival.

Speaking at the recent Lumiere Summit in France, Baltyuor said the foundation was working to build a wider film industry ecosystem.

He highlighted the foundation’s support for 11 films from the region selected for the Venice Film Festival and eight Arab productions featured at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Despite the cancellation, the Red Sea Fund and Red Sea Labs will continue their activities, supporting filmmakers through financing, training and development programmes.

The foundation also announced plans to introduce year-round programming at Culture Square in Jeddah from November, featuring film screenings, cultural events and specialised industry programmes.

The festival’s absence this year could affect Arab filmmakers who had planned to premiere their projects at the event. Other regional festivals, including the Marrakech International Film Festival, Doha Film Festival, El Gouna Film Festival and Cairo International Film Festival, may provide alternative platforms for these productions.

When the Red Sea Film Festival returns in 2027, it will also share the regional festival calendar with the revived Dubai International Film Festival, which is scheduled to resume on December 8 that year.

The Red Sea Film Foundation has yet to announce the exact dates or programme for its 2027 edition.