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What To Know
- The fifth edition of the festival begins this Thursday in Jeddah and runs through December 13 — and the newly revealed lineup reads like a who’s who of modern Hollywood.
- Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival is leveling up its global presence this year, announcing a new wave of major Hollywood stars who will take part in its much-anticipated “In Conversation” series.
- According to organizers, the “In Conversation” events are designed to give fans and industry guests an intimate look at each artist’s craft, passions, and behind-the-scenes stories.
Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival is leveling up its global presence this year, announcing a new wave of major Hollywood stars who will take part in its much-anticipated “In Conversation” series. The fifth edition of the festival begins this Thursday in Jeddah and runs through December 13 — and the newly revealed lineup reads like a who’s who of modern Hollywood.
Leading the additions is Dakota Johnson, fresh off her buzzworthy role in “Materialists.” She’ll be joined by actor-entrepreneur Jessica Alba and “Ballerina” headliner Ana de Armas. All three are expected to draw major attention as they dive into their creative processes, industry outlooks, and personal journeys.
The festival didn’t stop there. More major names were unveiled, including Oscar nominee Kirsten Dunst, “Vampire Diaries” favorite Nina Dobrev, global entertainment icon Queen Latifah, and Bollywood star Kriti Sanon. Together, they represent one of the most diverse and influential groups ever assembled for the festival’s flagship conversation series.
According to organizers, the “In Conversation” events are designed to give fans and industry guests an intimate look at each artist’s craft, passions, and behind-the-scenes stories. These stars join an already loaded lineup of attendees such as Adrien Brody, Sean Baker, and Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania. Honorees this year include Michael Caine, Sigourney Weaver, Juliette Binoche, Rachid Bouchareb, and Stanley Tong.
The festival is also packed with high-profile screenings. Angelina Jolie’s “Couture,” “The Wizard of the Kremlin” featuring Jude Law and Paul Dano, and Rupert Wyatt’s “Desert Warrior” starring Anthony Mackie and Ben Kingsley headline the International Spectacular showcase. Meanwhile, the competition slate remains centered on emerging voices from Asia, Africa, and the Arab world.
Oscar-winning director Sean Baker, this year’s jury president, will oversee a competition celebrating global cinematic storytelling. The festival opens Thursday night with Rowan Athale’s boxing biopic “Giant,” starring Amir El-Masry as “Prince” Naseem Hamed and Pierce Brosnan as his legendary trainer.
