Red Sea Film Foundation Returns to Cannes with Four Films

As the red carpet rolls out for the 78th Cannes Film Festival, the spotlight turns toward voices from the Arab world, Asia, and Africa. Among them, the Red Sea Film Foundation returns to Cannes, championing regional stories on a global stage.

This year, the Foundation presents four films supported through its key initiatives: the Red Sea Fund, Red Sea Souk, and Red Sea Labs. These platforms are designed not only to finance projects but to help build a sustainable film ecosystem across the region.

The selected titles include Promised Sky by Erige Sehiri, which follows three immigrant women in Tunisia whose fragile refuge is disrupted by the arrival of an orphan girl. Aisha Can’t Fly Away by Morad Mostafa centres on a 26-year-old African caregiver in Cairo's Ain Shams neighbourhood, navigating violence, exploitation, and official neglect. Dandelion’s Odyssey by Momoko Seto takes a surreal turn, following four seed-friends cast into space after a nuclear explosion as they search for a new home. Life After Siham by Namir Abdel Messeeh traces the director’s journey through grief as he reconnects with his late mother through film.

Together, these films explore themes of displacement, identity, memory, and resilience, offering distinct perspectives on the human experience. Beyond the screenings, the Foundation is also active at the Marché du Film, where the Saudi Pavilion has become a space for industry connections. On May 16, it will host a “Meet the Red Sea Team” panel, allowing filmmakers and producers to engage with the team behind its vision.