Red Sea Film Festival Reveals Star-Studded Programming Team for 2025 Edition
Red Sea Film Festival Reveals Star-Studded Programming Team for 2025 Edition
On the eve of the Venice Film Festival, the Red Sea Film Foundation has unveiled its new international programming team for the upcoming Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF), set to take place in Al Balad, Jeddah from December 4–13, 2025. This year’s lineup of programmers brings together prominent film experts from TIFF, MAMI, FESPACO, and beyond, reflecting the festival’s growing international clout.
The announcement comes as the Foundation celebrates five of its supported projects premiering at Venice, including Hijra, Roqia, Cotton Queen, A Sad and Beautiful World, and Memory of Princess Mumbai. Red Sea FF will also continue its partnership with Venice’s Final Cut program.
A Global Roster of Programming Talent
The newly appointed Director of International Programs, Fionnuala Halligan, has assembled an accomplished team to steer RSIFF’s curatorial direction into its fifth edition:
Mike Goodridge, producer and founder of Good Chaos (Orphan, Ballad of a Small Player), joins as International Program Advisor. A former CEO of Protagonist Pictures and editor of Screen International, Goodridge brings deep industry ties and festival expertise from Macao and Sarajevo.
Giovanna Fulvi, International Programming Consultant for Asia, continues her curatorial work at the Toronto International Film Festival, specializing in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean cinema. She has also contributed to Rotterdam and festivals in Rome and Torino.
Deepti D'Cunha, South Asia Programming Consultant, brings over 15 years of experience including leadership at MAMI Mumbai Film Festival and advisory roles at Venice, Locarno, and Cannes Directors’ Fortnight.
Alex Moussa Sawadogo, Africa Programming Consultant, is the current Managing Director of Burkina Faso’s national cinema agency and founder of Ouaga Film Lab. He previously served as Artistic Director at FESPACO and the Lausanne African Film Festival.
Reinforcing Arab and Saudi Cinema
Under the guidance of Antoine Khalife, Director of Arab Programs and Film Classics, the festival continues to elevate voices from the Arab world with key new appointments:
Ahmed Al-Ayyad, editor-in-chief of Fasllah.com and arts editor at Elaph, joins as Senior Programmer. Al-Ayyad is a FIPRESCI member and a respected Saudi critic.
Josephine Habchi, a Lebanese journalist, critic, and screenwriter, also joins as Senior Programmer, bringing extensive experience in TV and film journalism.
Mariam Abdalla will serve as both Programmer and Egypt Correspondent, with previous roles at Samusocial International Egypt and Pro Helvetia.
Badih Massaad, director and lecturer at the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts, is now Short Films Programme Manager, working alongside Mohyee Qari, RSIFF’s longstanding Saudi Program Manager known for curating a dynamic local cinema slate.
Looking Ahead to December
Shivani Pandya-Malhotra, Managing Director of the Red Sea Film Foundation, emphasized the significance of the new team:
“Our programming teams are the backbone of our festival – tirelessly weaving together the works we screen and shaping the artistic direction of each edition.”
The Red Sea IFF, now in its fifth edition, will once again transform the historic UNESCO-listed district of Al Balad into a cinematic hub, with retrospectives, competitions, premieres, and industry masterclasses running for ten days.
As Saudi Arabia’s flagship cinema event, RSIFF continues to bridge cultures and build a sustainable film industry in the region. With a world-class programming team now in place, the 2025 edition promises to be its most globally resonant yet.