Red Sea Film Festival Postpones Sixth Edition, Sets 2027 Return
The Red Sea International Film Festival has postponed its sixth edition, originally set for December 3-12, to the fourth quarter of 2027.
The Red Sea International Film Festival has postponed its sixth edition, which had been scheduled to run from December 3 to 12, with organisers now planning to hold the event in the fourth quarter of 2027.
The announcement was made by the Red Sea Film Foundation through its Instagram account. The foundation said the decision came after a thorough review of factors surrounding the timing of the next edition, including the logistical demands of mounting an international event on this scale. It added that the move reflected a commitment to holding the festival at the right time and under the right conditions.
The foundation thanked filmmakers, partners, guests and audiences for their continued trust and support, saying it looked forward to the festival's return in 2027.
Widely regarded as the Arab world's leading film event and market, the festival was established in 2019, with its first edition held in 2020 — two years after Saudi Arabia lifted a 35-year ban on commercial movie theatres. Its most recent edition was the first under the leadership of Faisal Baltyuor, a pioneer of the Saudi film industry who was appointed chief executive of the Red Sea Foundation in May 2025. The foundation oversees the festival as well as the Red Sea Fund and its year-round Red Sea Labs.
Indian cinema has featured prominently at past editions, which have honoured stars including Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan and Ranveer Singh. The 2025 edition drew a star-studded red carpet, with Dakota Johnson, Uma Thurman, Ana de Armas, Queen Latifah, Vin Diesel and Michael Caine among those attending, and filmmaker Sean Baker serving as jury president.
Despite the postponement, the Red Sea Fund and Red Sea Labs will continue their operations, the foundation said. Year-round programming is also set to be introduced at Culture Square in Jeddah in November, with the aim of establishing it as a lasting destination for film screenings, cultural events and specialised industry programmes.