• The program features eleven short films from Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco, Iraq, UAE.
• The selected films reflect the diversity of Arab storytelling and offer contemporary human perspectives
The Red Sea International Film Festival (Red Sea IFF) has unveiled the lineup of Arab short films competing in the official competition of its fifth edition, featuring eleven compelling works from Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco, Iraq, UAE. The films will screen from December 4–13, 2025, in the historic district “Al-Balad”, Jeddah, as the coastal city once again transforms into a global hub for cinema and storytelling.
This year’s Arab Shorts program brings together a new wave of distinctive voices, spotlighting emerging Arab filmmakers whose works embody creative diversity and emotional depth. The selection reflects the evolving landscape of Arab cinema — rich in culture, identity, and human experience — offering bold reflections on society, memory, and the search for belonging.
List of selected films:
• Coyotes, directed by Said Zagha (Palestine)
A Palestinian surgeon’s drive home after a night shift turns into a life-altering journey through a desolate West Bank road.
• Empty Lands, directed by Karim Eldin El Alfy (Egypt)
A loyal officer and his wife move into a government-allocated home once inhabited by a displaced family, uncovering traces of a missing daughter that awaken buried fears.
• Quo vadis, Meryem!, directed by Amine Zeriouh (Morocco)
A woman’s attempt to rekindle her marriage after visiting a dying friend leads to the resurfacing of hidden family tensions.
• Umbilical Cord, directed by Ahmed Hasan Ahmed (UAE)
A poetic odyssey through anxiety and hope as a man races against time on a morning filled with urgency and unanswered calls.
• With the Wind, directed by Ines Lehaire (Morocco)
An aging florist decides to close his shop for good, embarking on a final journey to give away his remaining flowers — and rediscover forgotten emotions.
• Beyond the Mind, directed by Lanya Nooralddin (Iraq)
A tender yet tragic allegory of devotion and rejection told through the story of Mekhak, a loyal donkey abandoned by his family.
• Irtizaz, directed by Sara Balghonaim (Saudi Arabia)
At a funeral, a young divorcée is thrust into a silent competition to prove her worth in a biting social commentary on gender and class.
• Opening Ceremony, directed by Hussain Almutlaq (Saudi Arabia)
A nine-year-old boy chosen to cut the ribbon at a cultural center’s opening must secretly deliver an envelope for his mother, torn between innocence and duty.
• The Sea Remembers My Name, directed by Hussein Hossam (Egypt)
After one twin drowns, the surviving brother assumes his identity in a desperate attempt to reclaim his father’s love.
• What If They Bomb Here Tonight?, directed by Samir Syriani (Lebanon)
A Lebanese couple endures a sleepless night, paralyzed by fear of an impending airstrike and the impossible choice between safety and home.
• She’s Swimming, directed by Liliane Rahal (Lebanon)
Following her cousin’s death in a plane crash, a filmmaker embarks on a reflective journey through grief and nature’s cycles in search of closure.
