DUBAI: The Red Sea International Film Festival announced this week that Academy Award-winning filmmaker Sean Baker will serve as president of the features jury for its fifth edition, taking place from Dec. 4 to 13 in Jeddah.

Baker, known for his voice in independent cinema, earned widespread acclaim for films such as “Tangerine” and “The Florida Project.” His latest film, “Anora” (2024), won five Oscars earlier this year, including Best Picture and Best Director.

The competition honors all cinematic forms, from narrative to animation and documentary, featuring films from Asia, Africa, and the Arab world. Sixteen features will vie for the coveted Yusr Awards, with the winners being selected by Baker and other jury members.

Faisal Baltyuor, CEO of the Red Sea Film Foundation, said in a statement: “Sean Baker is a trailblazing director whose dedication to championing authentic and meaningful storytelling through film is truly inspiring.

“He has continually pushed the boundaries of cinema with authentic storytelling and an unmistakable artistic vision, and we deeply admire his commitment to independent filmmaking. We are very proud to be bringing him on board to lead our features jury this year, fresh off his record-breaking success at the 2025 Academy Awards for our very special 5th edition,” he added.

Meanwhile, Baker said: “It’s an honor to serve as jury president for the Red Sea International Film Festival this year, taking the baton from Spike Lee. I’ve long admired how the festival champions bold, diverse voices from across the globe, and this year’s Feature Competition showcases some of the most daring and exciting new voices from the Arab world, Africa and Asia.

“Festivals like Red Sea IFF give independent films a vital platform and connect them with a global audience. I’m thrilled to be part of that celebration of cinema and look forward to engaging with the incredible titles in the competition line-up.”