During the Awards Ceremony held on September 25th, an international Jury announced the winners of the two $ 500.000 production grants, selected among the projects developed within the Red Sea Lodge – a Red Sea International Film Festival’s training initiative organized in collaboration with TorinoFilmLab.
The Jury, composed of Nadia Turincev (CEO and Producer at Easy Riders Films, France), Meinolf Zurhorst (Head of Film Department at ZDF, Germany) and Yousry Nasrallah (Film Director, Egypt) selected and announced the winners:
- The Red Sea Lodge Production Grant for a Saudi Project was awarded to SHARSHAF by Hind Alfahhad, written by Hana Alomair and produced by Talal Ayel.
The jury said they were enamoured by the “touching and strong female character, and the bonds in a relationship that can bring us together and tear us apart”. They were also intrigued that it was set in “a period of Saudi Arabia’s history the world knows so little about, unveiled to us by Hind Alfahhad".
Hind Alfahhad’s SHARSHAF is set in 1978. Haila, the daughter of a conservative Imam, marries Mosa'ed, the son of a rich and well-known fabric stores owner. The young couple spends their honeymoon in Cairo. SHARSHAF is a romantic drama that follows Haila as she gets to know what she wants through the magic of cinema and how this discovery is challenged later as extremism invades the society.
- The Red Sea Lodge Award for an Arab Project was awarded to BULLETS & BREAD by Mohammad Hammad, produced by Kholoud Saad and Mohamed Hefzy.
Mohammed Hammad’s BULLETS & BREAD is based on the story of the writer Tamer Abdrab Elnaby. Youssef, a conscript serving his compulsory military service on the Egyptian eastern desert border who dreams of becoming a writer. Awad is a dangerous bandit from one of those tribes roaming that remote desert region who dreams of giving a better life for his family in Cairo. Their paths were not meant to cross but a true friendship will grow between them.
The jury enjoyed the dynamic at the film’s heart which they described as “Soldier and Gypsy; Laurel and Hardy; Friendship and Adversity. We can’t wait to be part of this road trip, this cinematic voyage”.
The Jury also gave a Special Mention to the Saudi Project FOUR ACTS OF DISRUPTION directed by Hussam AlHulwah and produced by Mohammad Alhamoud, which will be awarded $ 25.000 by the Red Sea Lodge for further development.
The story is set in the 1930s while the newly formed Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is adjusting to the arrival of American oil prospectors. The jury gave special recognition to the project and stated: “The film has huge potential and we hope that Hussam AlHulwah and Mohammad Alhamoud can continue to develop the project and bring it to fruition".
The 12 feature film projects developed within the Red Sea Lodge (6 from Saudi Arabia, and 6 from the Arab world) will be presented to an audience of Decision Makers within the TFL Meeting Event.
More information about the Red Sea Lodge here.