From Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, KSA, Kuwait, Palestine and UAE, eleven AFAC-supported films are set to screen at the Red Sea International Film Festival (RSFF) 2025, offering fresh perspectives on histories, struggles, and lived realities.
Premiering under the “Red Sea: Competition” section is Barni, the debut feature by Somali filmmaker Mohammed Sheikh. The film follows the moving story of 9-year old Barni, who goes missing after a wedding celebration in a quaint Somali village. Her 18-year-old sister, Amina, joined by friends Hirsi and Geedi, sets out on a courageous journey to the city to find her. Barni explores the strength of family bonds, solidarity in adversity and the courage of children in challenging social contexts.
Three other films participating in the same section include: Sink by Zain Duraie (Jordan); Roqia by Yanis Koussim (Algeria); and Irkalla - Gilgamesh’s Dream by Mohamed Al-Daradji (Iraq).
Sink portrays an intimate look into a powerful maternal bond and unconditional love in the face of chaos. The film follows Nadia’s battle as she finds herself sinking into her teenage son's undiagnosed mental illness.
Roqia, set between 1993 and the present, interweaves parallel narratives: one of Ahmed, a family man who develops amnesia after a car crash; the other of an aging raqi (exorcist) grappling with Alzheimer’s disease under the worried eye of his disciple. As Ahmed dreads recovering his memory, while the disciple fears the raqi’s memory loss could unleash an evil that was once sealed away.
In war-torn Baghdad, Irkalla - Gilgamesh’s Dream follows a diabetic 9-year-old seeking his dead parents through a mythical gate to Irkalla in the Tigris River, while his friend faces militia recruitment. A story of loss and hope in a resilient city.
RSFF’s “Festival Favorites” section will showcase The Settlement by Egyptian director Mohamed Rashad, a thriller where brothers Hossam and Maro are recruited by the same factory where their father obscurely lost his life.
Palestinian historical drama and Academy Awards 2026 entry Palestine 36, by Annemarie Jacir, will participate in the festival’s “Arab Spectacular” section. The film revisits the farmer-led 1936 revolt against British colonial rule, combining personal stories with rare archival footage.
Furthermore, five films produced by emerging women filmmakers as part of the "AFAC x Netflix Women in Film - Bring Your Story to Life" initiative will premier in the “Red Sea: New Vision” section. The films bring forth untold stories of emancipation, persistence and survival.
Somewhere Else by Haya Alghanim (Kuwait) follows Dana, a desolate yet daring 10-year-old, as she flees her tumultuous home on the coast of Bnaider in Kuwait to escape her mother’s rage and seek a truer sense of self. In her search for belonging, she meets two teenagers who intrigue her before she slowly starts to realize that their path isn't right for her.
No Land in Sight by Eiman Alkhalifa (UAE) is an intimate and harrowing drama that explores the unbreakable bond between a mother and her children in the face of war, separation and uncertainty. Nadia, a resilient Sudanese mother, anxiously awaits news from her son, Omar, who has left their war-torn country in search of a safer future. When a long-awaited call from Omar arrives, relief turns to horror as he reveals he is at sea, struggling against a storm. As their fragile connection deteriorates, so does Nadia’s hope.
In Jareesh Salam by Zahra Mohamed and Tala Alharbi (Saudi Arabia), the narrative follows 11-year-old Salma. When her mother throws out the red football that her late father gave to her, Salma challenges the neighborhood boy who finds it to a match. In a battle that goes beyond the football field, Salma's fight to reclaim her property becomes a defiant struggle against the expectations of her community and family in Saudi Arabia’s early 2000s.
Cleanse the Streets by Aisha Shahaltough (Jordan) is the story of two sisters running for their lives. Driving a blue pickup truck in the middle of nowhere, to escape their father's wrath, the two sisters must confront a much darker truth that no distance can outrun.
In Of Burning Memories and Wounds by Suha Belal (Egypt), Anise, a 70-year-old woman suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, leads a solitary life. To pass the time, she spies on her neighbors and tries to reminisce about her role as a mother to a family that no longer exists. But for Anise’s caregiver, 30-year-old Noura, thoughts are on how to avoid starting a family of her own.
For the full program and screening schedule, visit the festival’s official website.