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What To Know
- She stepped out in a silver cape gown while wearing a cast following a recent hand injury, and the crowd reaction matched the kind of attention she pulls at Cannes.
- A carpet stacked with faces US audiences actually know — and a festival Saudi Arabia is pushing into the global.
- Hollywood Names Push the Festival Onto American Timelines Vin Diesel arriving at a Middle East festival is the type of photo that catches US feeds fast.
A carpet stacked with faces US audiences actually know — and a festival Saudi Arabia is pushing into the global
conversation
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Lights Up Jeddah With a Cannes-Level Entrance
The Red Sea International Film Festival opened in Jeddah with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan landing the night’s first viral moment. She stepped out in a silver cape gown while wearing a cast following a recent hand injury, and the crowd reaction matched the kind of attention she pulls at Cannes. US readers who remember her from “Bride & Prejudice,” “Pink Panther 2,” or years of global red-carpet headlines will recognize the level of noise she generates. Her appearance instantly signaled why this festival keeps attracting bigger names every year.
Hollywood Names Push the Festival Onto American Timelines Vin Diesel arriving at a Middle East festival is the type of photo that catches US feeds fast. He spent time with fans, stopped for photos, and later delivered short remarks about community and storytelling. Sharon Stone followed with one of the most talked-about moments of the evening, offering a message inside the venue about filmmakers who push new perspectives forward. The mix of Diesel, Stone, Andrew Garfield, Nicolas Cage, Paz Vega, Michelle Rodriguez, and Freida Pinto stacked the carpet with names familiar to American audiences, which is exactly how the festival continues
building its global identity.
Regional Icons Add Local Power and Strong Visuals
The regional presence held its own. Egyptian screen legend Yousra arrived in a gold embroidered gown and drew
strong applause from Arab guests who grew up watching her films and series. Lebanese star Maya Diab leaned into sculptural couture for her entrance. Saudi filmmakers, including Shahad Ameen, walked the carpet and underscored the festival’s mission to elevate local industry voices while still attracting global attention. The mix of Arab and Hollywood names made the carpet feel like a cultural merge rather than a guest list from one region.
Honorary Awards and the “HWJN” Premiere Show the Festival’s Direction Lebanese filmmaker Nadine Labaki received an Honorary Award for her impact on global cinema. Halle Berry accepted an Honorary Award as well and used her moment to speak about expanding opportunities for women in film. The festival opened its screenings with “HWJN,” a Saudi fantasy film by Yasir Al-Yasiri, marking Saudi’s interest in pushing genre storytelling toward international audiences.
This festival isn’t a niche regional event anymore. The opening night lineup shows a clear ambition: major Hollywood visibility, strong regional representation, and a rising position in the global film circuit that US audiences will increasingly encounter across entertainment feeds.
