Red Sea Fund Selects 30 Projects Across 2026 Funding Cycles

The Red Sea Film Foundation’s Red Sea Fund has selected 30 projects across its first two funding cycles of 2026, supporting filmmakers from Saudi Arabia, the Arab world, Africa and Asia.

Cycle 1, dedicated to post-production, received a record 220 submissions and selected 13 projects. Cycle 2, focused on production, drew 696 submissions and selected 17 projects across feature fiction, documentary and short fiction.

Several Cycle 1 titles have already reached major international festivals. Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo’s ‘Ben’imana’ won the Caméra d’Or at Cannes after premiering in Un Certain Regard, while Laïla Marrakchi’s ‘Strawberries’ also screened in the section.

Toronto selections included Theja Rio’s ‘Angh’, which won the Platform Award, and Kamila Andini’s ‘Four Seasons in Java’. Other supported films include Ashgan El-Hamus’ ‘Al Baraneya’, selected for Venice, and Lê Bảo’s ‘Hearing’, which competed at Locarno.

Cycle 2 includes ‘Gaza Forever’ by Palestinian directors Tarzan and Arab Nasser, ‘Tarfaya’ by Sofia Alaoui and ‘Lotus Feet’ by Amanda Nell Eu.

Five Saudi projects were also selected: ‘Remind Me to Forget’ by Lama Jamjoom, ‘Green Corpse’ by Khaled Zidan, ‘Maria’s Mansion’ by Raed Alsemari, ‘Bait Bahar’ by Yaser Hammad and ‘Microwave’ by Mishary Almazyaad.

The selections follow the cancellation of the 2026 Red Sea International Film Festival, with the foundation continuing its support for filmmakers through the Red Sea Fund.