JEDDAH: The Red Sea International Film Festival has opened its submissions portal for its fifth edition, which will run from Dec. 4 to 13 in the historic district of Al-Balad, Jeddah.

Filmmakers from Saudi Arabia, other countries in the Arab world, Africa and Asia have until Aug. 17 to submit their entries.

There will be no fee for entries submitted before July 7, after which a fee will apply: SR100 ($26) for short films and SR200 for feature films.

Submissions can be entered under three categories: the Red Sea Competition, Red Sea Shorts Competition and New Saudi/New Cinema.

The Red Sea Competition highlights outstanding works from Asia and Africa, including the Arab world, across narrative, documentary and animation.

The Shorts Competition showcases films under 60 minutes, focusing on original storytelling.

The New Saudi/New Cinema section focuses on emerging local talent, offering a platform for new voices in the Kingdom’s rapidly growing film scene.

Since its inception in 2019, the festival has served as a platform for cultural dialogue and cinematic discovery, while strengthening ties between regional and international filmmakers.

Selected films this year will vie for the prestigious Yusr Awards, including the Golden Yusr for Best Feature Film, which comes with a $100,000 prize. Other accolades include Best Director, the Jury Prize and the Golden Yusr for Best Short Film.

Shivani Pandya Malhotra, managing director of the Red Sea Film Foundation, said in a statement the festival has “firmly established itself as a distinctive force within the cinematic landscape, both locally and internationally.”

“Having showcased over 520 films from 85 countries, the festival stands today as a vital platform for cultural exchange and compelling storytelling,” she added.