Pakistan made a historic appearance at the fifth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah’s historic Al-Balad district, with the national flag raised at the global event for the first time. The festival, running from December 4 to 13, 2025, opened with the world premiere of Rowan Athale’s film Giant, a biographical drama about British-Yemeni boxing legend Prince Naseem Hameed.
Representing Pakistan are veteran and acclaimed creative professionals Atiqah Udho, Shahzad Nawaz, and Tausiq Haider, who will also participate in a key panel discussion on December 9. Their involvement is seen as a milestone in Pakistan’s cinematic journey, reinforcing the country’s growing presence on the international film stage.
This year’s festival features 111 premieres from 45 countries, including 38 world premieres, showcasing the event’s diversity and cinematic quality. The competition jury is chaired by Oscar-winning filmmaker Shane Baker, alongside prominent creators from the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and beyond.
Over just five years, the Red Sea International Film Festival has become one of the Middle East’s most influential and high-quality film events, promoting creative economies and international collaboration. This edition places special emphasis on audience engagement, training for young filmmakers, industry networking, and positioning films for the global awards season.
In addition, Pakistan’s delegation praised the efforts of Noshin Ahmed Wasim from Hew Works, whose contributions were key to enabling the country’s participation. The festival underscores Pakistan’s commitment to storytelling, creative expression, and cross-cultural collaboration on international platforms.
