DUBAI: Saudi Arabian film producer Faisal Baltyuor has been appointed CEO of the Red Sea Film Foundation, it was announced on Tuesday.

The foundation oversees the Jeddah-based Red Sea Film Festival, the Red Sea Fund and Red Sea Labs. Baltyuor will replace acting CEO Mohammed Asseri from June 1.

Baltyuor was previously the first head of Ithra Cinema, and founded the Saudi Arabia distributor CineWaves Films, which has the biggest library of Saudi films.

He was previously CEO at Muvi Studios, the production arm of the Kingdom’s biggest cinema chain. Last year, Baltyuor opened Cinehouse in Riyadh, the first arthouse cinema in the Kingdom.

“We wanted to create a place that feels like home, while showcasing the best of Saudi talent in both cinema and dining,” Baltyuor said in an earlier interview with Arab News.

A producer for almost 20 years, Baltyuor executive-produced Saudi Arabia director Haifaa Al-Mansour’s groundbreaking “The Perfect Candidate,” which was launched in Venice in 2019, and comedy “Sattar,” a local megahit.

He is also a producer on the Saudi Netflix Original “From the Ashes” which ranked among the top-10 most-watched films on the streamer across 40 countries.

Baltyuor also co-produced Sudanese director Mohamed Kordofani’s “Goodbye Julia” which won the Prix de la Liberte at Cannes in 2023.

The Red Sea Film Foundation’s chairwoman Jomana Al-Rashid has praised Baltyuor.

“His visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to unlocking the boundless potential of emerging talent will fuel not only artistic excellence but also the sustainable growth of our industry.”

Baltyuor said he was “committed to building on the success” of the foundation.

“Through our diverse programs, we will continue to support a thriving film industry both locally and internationally, in line with the ambitions of Vision 2030, which places the creative sector at the heart of national development.”

The next edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival runs from Dec. 4 to 13 in Jeddah.