The Red Sea Film Foundation (Red Sea FF) tonight hosted the Women in Cinema Gala

The Red Sea Film Foundation celebrates Elham Ali, Jacqueline Fernandez, Gaya Jiji, Amina Khalil, Rungano Nyoni, Sarah Taibah, and Engfa Waraha at the Red Sea IFF Women in Cinema Gala

The Red Sea Film Foundation (Red Sea FF) tonight hosted the Women in Cinema Gala, celebrating the achievements of emerging female talent in front of and behind the camera, who are redefining the film industry in the Arab World, Africa and Asia.

During the event held alongside the 78th Cannes Film Festival at the iconic Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cap d’Antibes, the Red Sea FF spotlit the careers of a cohort of seven women making waves in the film and entertainment industries.

The Women in Cinema spotlight honourees this edition are; Elham Ali, a Saudi actress who is considered one of the most prominent figures in Gulf and Saudi television and cinema. She began her career in theatre before making a successful transition to acting, and is known for her work in both dramatic and comedic roles including The Cello (2023), The Prisoner (2023) and Bilal The Sixth (2021). Elham Ali is a talent writer and has served on the jury for several film festivals, including the Emmys, Saudi Film Festival and the Bahrain Film Festival.

Jacqueline Fernandez is a South Asian actress. Former Miss Universe Sri Lanka, Jacqueline transitioned into Bollywood and has been part of the industry for 15 years. She quickly rose to fame for her performances in Murder 2 (2011) and Housefull 2 (2012). She has several commercial box-office successes like Race 2 (2013) and Kick (2014). In 2022, Jacqueliene starred in the international anthology film Tell It Like a Woman, portraying the character Divya. The film's song "Applause," was nominated for Best Original Song at the 95th Academy Awards. Jacqueliene also starred in her international debut dim Kill 'Em All 2, an action-packed sequel featuring Jean-Claude Van Damme. Beyond the screen, Jacqueline is a global ambassador for wellness and animal rights.

Gaya Jiji  is a Syrian filmmaker, born in Damascus who has directed three short films: The Haunted House (2003), created for a workshop at the University of Paris 8; The Father... too (2009), produced by the Damascus Arab Capital of Culture which received a Special Mention from the Jury at the FIFAK Festival - Tunisia 2009; and Morning, noon, evening... and morning (2011), which won the Best Short Film Award by Cinemag, and was selected for numerous festivals worldwide. Her first feature-length film, My Favorite Fabric, was selected in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2018 Festival de Cannes and was awarded the Women in Motion Young Talent Award at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.

Amina Khalil is one of the Arab world’s most distinguished actresses, acclaimed for her bold artistic choices, depth of performance, and commitment to authentic storytelling. Over nearly 15 years, she has starred in celebrated works such as Grand Hotel, Layali Eugenie, Leh Laa, Curfew, Face2Face, A Nose and Three Eyes and Shamarikh. The latter two both premiered at the Red Sea International Film Festival in 2024, further solidifying her reputation for powerful, layered performances.

Rungano Nyoni is a Zambian-Welsh director, screenwriter and actress, who gained recognition with her early shorts, including THE LIST (2009), which won a BAFTA Cymru Award, and MWANSA THE GREAT (2011), which was BAFTA-nominated and selected for over 100 international film festivals. Her feature films, I AM NOT A WITCH (2017) and ON BECOMING A GUINEA FOWL (2024), have earned her numerous accolades, including the BAFTA for Outstanding Debut and the Un Certain Regard Award for Best Director at Cannes, as well as Best Director at the British Independent Film Awards.

Sarah Taibah is a multidisciplinary artist and filmmaker from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. She is the creator, writer, and lead of the acclaimed dark comedy series Jameel Jiddan, and most recently finished shooting her feature film A Matter of Life and Death, which she stars in and wrote. Beyond filmmaking, Sarah holds a Master of Fine Arts from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Her creative practice spans film, performance, and illustration—mediums through which she translates intimate inner dialogues into powerful visual narratives. Her work often centres on nuanced portrayals of Saudi women, told with boldness and authenticity.

Engfa Waraha is a Thai actress, who gained widespread acclaim in 2023 for her lead role as Meena in the hit TV series Show Me Love, which marked her breakout performance. She went on to star as Kulap in Bangkok Blossom (2024) and delivered a standout performance as Hom Jongyoi in The Paradise of Thorns. The film was a major box office success and earned her the Best Actress of the Year award at the 2025 Thailand Box Office Awards, as well as a runner-up position for Best Actress at the 14th Thai Film Director Awards. Her growing body of work includes roles in Petrichor (2024) as Tul Chanwimol, along with appearances in Club Friday Season 16: Hot Love Issue and Unlimited Love, and she is set to star in Lady Bee, an upcoming film adapted from the Thai literary classic The Story of Jan Dara.

In addition to the spotlight honourees, Jomana Al-Rashid; Chairwoman of the Red Sea International Film Foundation, Faisal Baltyuor; CEO of Red Sea Film Foundation and Shivani Pandya-Malhotra; Managing Director of the Red Sea IFF welcomed an array of film, TV, and fashion talent from around the world including Jessica Alba, Yousra, Catherine Deneuve, Daniel Kaluuya, Fatima Albanawi, Haifaa Al Mansour, Marielle Heller, Razane Jammal, Melanie Laurent, Dhafer L’Abadine, Juliette Binoche, Eiza Gonzalez, Gurinder Chadha, Imogen Poots and Hana Alomair.

Jomana Al-Rashid; Chairwoman of the Red Sea Film Foundation said: “Supporting women across all aspects of the film industry is one of the Foundation’s cornerstones. Across our Fund, Labs and at our Festival, we are committed to platforming rising and established female talent on the global stage – having supported more than 230 female directors since 2019. Tonight’s Gala is the perfect way to come together in celebration of the work of all women in cinema, as we continue to empower a new generation of female talent, creatives and storytellers.”

Shivani Pandya-Malhotra; Managing Director of the Red Sea Film Foundation said “This year’s spotlight honourees showcase the incredible talent that can be found across the Arab world, Africa and Asia – demonstrating how important it is to platform creatives from these regions. We’re proud to be highlighting them as role models for women both in front of and behind the camera – and creating connections across these vibrant film industries.”

Now in its fifth edition, the Red Sea International Film Festival has showcased over 520 films from 85 countries and spotlighted more than 130 Saudi titles — affirming its role in championing local voices and global exchange. The upcoming edition will run from 4–13 December 2025 in the historic district of Al Balad, Jeddah.

Contact: REDSEAFILMFEST@ddaglobal.com

About Red Sea International Film Festival

Red Sea International Film Festival provides a platform for Arab filmmakers and industry professionals from around the world to connect, host feature and short film competitions, and present a series of events, masterclasses, and workshops to support emerging talent. Running during the Festival is the Red Sea Souk, the Festival’s industry market, designed for global exchange and partnerships between the international and Saudi film industries. The five-day market will offer a packed program of curated events to foster co-production, international distribution, and new business opportunities. The Souk offers unbeatable access to the new vibrant Saudi scene, as well as the best of the Arab market, through pitching sessions, one-on-one meetings, screenings, industry talks, and networking events.