Ringing out from the heart of Dubai, the Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) heralded its ‘Women in Cinema’ Gala — a collaboration with Vanity Fair Europe — at Cannes, drawing the eyes of the world and a host of international celebrities this Saturday.
An image of Richard Gere with Mohammed Al-Turki flashed commemoratively. The star-studded gala dinner was the finale that followed the RSIFF’s insightful panel discussion titled ‘Women in Cinema’, which highlighted the daylong Variety Global Conversations.
The conversation starred a diverse pool of talents, including renowned Egyptian actress and model Salma Abu Deif, Thai actress and singer Sarocha Chankimha (known as Freen), and Indian actress Kiara Advani. From Saudi Arabia, actress Adhwa Fahad and singer-actress Aseel Omran represented the country’s burgeoning cinema. French-Senegalese director Ramata Toulaye-Sy also graced the event. They all shared their humble beginnings, career zeniths, and wellsprings of inspiration in an enlightening conversation.
Aseel Omran was seen beaming at the event. As the day fell to dusk, the sparkles of the evening’s gala were housed in the famed Hotel Du Cap. An array of stars lit the event, including “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’s” Eiza González, supermodel Naomi Campbell, and well-known actress Dorra Zarrouk. Model Ikram Abdi also beautified the event. Along with them were Rosie Huntington Whitley, Richard Gere, Minnie Driver, Raya Abirashed, Alexa Chung, Wallis Day, Lucas Bravo and Uma Thurman.
Renowned actress Yousra made her appearance at the Cannes event. “Together with Vanity Fair Europe, the Red Sea International Film Festival is proud to host the #WomenInCinema Gala, the purpose of which is to acknowledge the achievements of growing female talents behind and in front of the camera. They are reshaping the film industry in Saudi Arabia, the Arab world, Africa, and Asia,” shared the Red Sea Film Foundation via Instagram.
Saudi Arabia has assumed a vital role in the 77th Cannes Film Festival by endorsing four projects that made their screening debut at the event.
Projects titled “Norah,” “The Brink of Dreams,” “To A Land Unknown” and “Animale” will be showcased as part of the Un Certain Regard, Directors’ Fortnight, and Critic’s Week programs at Cannes. The Red Sea Film Foundation’s Red Sea Fund and the Red Sea Souk are the campaigning forces behind these projects.
RSIFF’s CEO Mohammed Al-Turki was seen gracing multiple red carpets throughout the venue. Teamed with Jomana Al-Rashid, CEO of the Saudi Research and Media Group, they walked the inaugural red carpet.
