 "The Red Sea Film Foundation brings Arab stories to TIFF")
The Red Sea Film Foundation (Red Sea FF) is presenting a dynamic line-up for this year’s Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Six Red Sea supported films are screening at the festival, including: Damien Hauser’s Memory of Princess Mumbi, Momoko Seto’s Dandelion’s Odyssey, and Mohamed Al-Daradji’s Irkalla: Gilgamesh’s Dream in TIFF’s Centrepiece programme; Ghost School by Seemab Gull and Sink by Zain Duraie in the Discovery section; and Palestine 36 by Annemarie Jacir for a Gala screening.
Zain Duraie’s debut feature Sink is a powerful portrait of a mother struggling with her son’s unravelling mental state, and was supported by all stages of Red Sea FF’s film incubation and funding ecosystem: having been developed at the Feature Films Program (formerly known as The Lodge), taking part in the Souk and supported by the Fund. Also supported by the Red Sea’s Fund and Souk, Memory of Princess Mumbi, directed by Damien Hauser, is set in Umata, a futuristic African country, and recounts a love triangle between a film director, an aspiring actress, and a prince.
Further Souk supported title Momoko Seto’s Dandelion’s Odyssey follows four dandelion achenes as they escape the nuclear destruction of Earth. Receiving support from the Red Sea Fund is Palestine 36 by Annemarie Jacir, which charts the lives and ambitions of those living under British rule in the 1930s; Seemab Gull’s Ghost School, which follows ten‑year‑old Rabia as she defies rural superstition and bureaucratic neglect to uncover why her school abruptly closed; and Irkalla: Gilgamesh’s Dream by Mohamed Al-Daradji, a heartbreaking epic tale about war orphans trying to survive in a completely destroyed city.
In addition, Saudi producer and Red Sea FF’s CEO Faisal Baltyuor is participating in TIFF’s industry programme, appearing on a panel exploring how films from the Middle East and North Africa are making waves on the global stage – earning festival acclaim, driving co-productions, and attracting international buyers. The panel brings together key producers and filmmakers to share how they are navigating today’s marketplace, positioning their work globally, and leveraging regional stories for international success, and features Baltyuor alongside filmmakers Seyhmus Altun (As We Breathe), Zain Duraie (Sink), and Haifaa Al Mansour (Unidentified).
Faisal Baltyuor, CEO of the Red Sea Film Foundation, said: “Seeing so many Red Sea-supported films selected across TIFF’s prestigious programming is a powerful moment for the Foundation, and it highlights how strategic investment in, and championing of regional talent can create world-class cinema with global resonance. These six films reflect the caliber of creative talent and ambition of the filmmakers we support, as well as the diversity of the stories coming out of the region – from motherhood and family to explorations of nature and the far-distant future. We’re committed to continuing to nurture storytellers from the Arab world and beyond, and helping them reach international audiences is an incredible privilege.”
The fifth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival will run from 4–13 December 2025 in the historic district of Al Balad, Jeddah.
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
