Red Sea Film Foundation and French Consulate in Jeddah Celebrate Winners of the 5th Annual 48Hr Film Challenge at Historic Jeddah – Al Balad

The Red Sea Film Foundation, in collaboration with the Alliance Française and Consulate General of France in Jeddah, has announced the winners of the highly anticipated fifth annual 48Hr Film Challenge. The awards ceremony, championing young filmmaking talents in Saudi Arabia, took place at the Foundation’s headquarters in Historic Jeddah – Al Balad.

The competition’s jury brought together a distinguished panel of film luminaries: Saudi presenter and actor Yasser Al Saggaf, Lebanese actress and director Carmen Bsaibes, and French-Moroccan filmmaker and actor Ayoub Layoussifi. The ceremony was also attended by key figures, including Red Sea Film Foundation CEO Faisal Baltyuor, Mohammed Nehad, the Consul General of France in Saudi Arabia, and Shivani Malhotra Pandya, Managing Director of the Red Sea International Film Festival.

Organized in partnership with the Consulate General of France in Saudi Arabia, Alliance Française, and the Institut français, the 48Hr Film Challenge empowers aspiring Saudi and Saudi-resident filmmakers to write, shoot, and edit an original film in a demanding time-bound competition rooted in collaboration and innovation. Participants also benefit from specialized film workshops led by leading local and regional creative directors and filmmakers, aimed at strengthening their skills and capabilities.

WAJOOM, helmed by Maan Alsiari, and MUBHAM, led by Muhannad Alzahrani, received the top awards at the ceremony. The jury also recognized Khaled Kaseb and his team’s Next Time with a Special Mention. The award-winning films will be screened at the 2025 Red Sea International Film Festival in December, and the awardees will participate in an exclusive artist residency program at a leading film school in France in 2026.

The 48Hr Film Challenge was held on July 18-19, 2025, where participants had to conceptualize, script, film, and edit their original short films, all within a 48-hour timeframe. The participants applied the essential skills gained from intensive training sessions held on July 11-12, led by industry experts, including Iraqi director Ahmed Yassine Darradji (directing), Saudi filmmaker Ahd Kamel (screenwriting), and Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences member Cyril Aris (editing).

The winners were selected for the exceptional artistic merit and technical excellence of their narratives. The jury was impressed with the high standard of submissions and commended the innovative storytelling, depth of talent, and cinematic ambition of the young filmmakers.

Faisal Baltyuor, CEO, Red Sea Film Foundation, said: “Our goal of cultivating a robust film ecosystem in Saudi Arabia aligns with the ambitious cultural and economic objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. The Red Sea Film Foundation is deeply invested in expanding the Kingdom’s film sector and building a pipeline of skilled filmmakers whose contributions will significantly enhance the creative economy and establish Saudi Arabia as a leading regional hub for film production and cinematic excellence. Initiatives like the 48Hr Film Challenge, developed in collaboration with our French partners, are crucial to this mission and in honing the skills of talented filmmakers and bringing their unique voices and perspectives to a wider audience.”