Exciting Milestone at the Red Sea Film Festival: First Silent Film Screening in Saudi Arabia
The Red Sea Film Festival is poised to make history in Saudi Arabia with a groundbreaking event: the nation’s first silent film screening, complete with live musical accompaniment. This highly anticipated occasion will feature renowned UK silent film musical expert Neil Brand, who will provide live music for three iconic silent slapstick shorts: Buster Keaton’s One Week, Charlie Chaplin’s The Immigrant, and Laurel & Hardy’s Liberty.
This live music event is part of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing journey to enrich its film culture and industry, following the end of a 35-year cinema ban in 2017. The silent film screening is a highlight of the festival’s classic film segment, known as "Treasures," which will also showcase two classic Arab films and three international feature films.
Among the highlights of this year’s lineup is the international premiere of the newly restored 4K version of Muzaffar Ali’s 1981 musical drama Umrao Jaan, produced by the National Film Archive of India. Additionally, festival-goers can look forward to Alfred Hitchcock’s 1945 thriller Spellbound and Luc Besson’s 1988 underwater adventure The Big Blue, which will be making its big-screen debut in Saudi Arabia.
The selection of Arab classics features notable films such as Egyptian director Ahmed Badrakhan’s Aida (1942) and Song of Hope (1937), which stars the legendary singer and actress Umm Kulthum.
Faisal Baltyuor, CEO of the Red Sea Film Foundation, expressed his excitement, stating, “This year’s Treasures lineup highlights the true legends of cinema, presenting iconic moments and performances that have been immortalized in film history. We are proud to play a role in the restoration of two of Umm Kulthum’s most memorable performances, reinforcing our commitment to bringing exceptional cinema to Saudi Arabia.”
Mark your calendars! The fifth edition of the Red Sea Film Festival will take place from December 4 to 13, with the full program set to be unveiled in early November. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to experience cinema history in the making!
