Five of the six films selected for Final Cut in Venice are Red Sea-supported, alongside three additional supported projects in the Venice Gap-Financing Market
Jeddah: Three films supported by the Red Sea Film Foundation have joined the Official Selection of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, taking place from 2 to 12 September 2026. Hiwar ma’ albahr (Conversation With The Sea), directed by Muayad Alayan, and Guria, directed by Levan Koguashvili, have been selected for Venezia Spotlight, while La maison du vent (House of the Wind), directed by Auguste Bernard Kouemo Yanghu, will screen in the Orizzonti Competition.
The Foundation is also represented across the Venice Production Bridge, with eight supported projects selected across two of its industry programmes. Five of the six work-in-progress films selected for Final Cut in Venice are supported by the Red Sea Film Foundation, while three additional supported projects have been selected for the Venice Gap-Financing Market.
Together, the selections announced to date bring the total number of Red Sea-supported films and projects represented across the Venice International Film Festival and Venice Production Bridge to 11 so far.
OFFICIAL SELECTION
VENEZIA SPOTLIGHT
HIWAR MA’ ALBAHR (CONVERSATION WITH THE SEA)
Directed by Muayad Alayan
Supported by the Red Sea Fund
GURIA
Directed by Levan Koguashvili
Supported by the Red Sea Fund and Red Sea Souk
ORIZZONTI COMPETITION
LA MAISON DU VENT (HOUSE OF THE WIND)
Directed by Auguste Bernard Kouemo Yanghu
Supported by the Red Sea Fund
VENICE PRODUCTION BRIDGE
The Venice Production Bridge is the Festival’s industry platform, supporting the presentation and development of film projects and connecting filmmakers with international industry professionals and decision-makers.
VENICE GAP-FINANCING MARKET
The Venice Gap-Financing Market presents projects in the final stages of development and funding, facilitating one-to-one meetings with international financiers and other industry decision-makers.
DON’T LET THE SUN GO UP ON ME
Directed by Asmae El Moudir
Supported by the Red Sea Fund and Red Sea Souk
HOLIDAY
Directed by Wissam Charaf
Supported by the Red Sea Fund and Red Sea Souk
WOLFMOTHER
Directed by Ismaël El Iraki
Supported by the Red Sea Fund and Red Sea Souk
The three projects are listed among the 38 fiction and documentary projects selected for the 2026 Venice Gap-Financing Market.
FINAL CUT IN VENICE
Final Cut in Venice presents selected works in progress to producers, buyers, distributors, post-production companies and festival programmers, helping filmmakers advance post-production and access the international film market.
Five of the six films selected for the 2026 programme are supported by the Red Sea Film Foundation:
A QUARTER TO THURSDAY
Directed by Sofia Djama
Supported by Red Sea Souk and Red Sea Labs
ELDORADO, THE TASTE OF THE SOUTH
Directed by Alaa Eddine Aljem
Supported by the Red Sea Fund
MEHAL SEFARI
Directed by Abraham Gezahagne
Supported by the Red Sea Fund
OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS
Directed by Bassel Ghandour
Supported by the Red Sea Fund
PLAGUE
Directed by Youssef Chebbi
Supported by the Red Sea Fund
The five titles are among the six work-in-progress films officially selected for the 14th edition of Final Cut in Venice.
The selections reflect the Red Sea Film Foundation’s continued commitment to supporting distinctive cinematic voices across different stages of their creative and professional journeys. Through the Red Sea Fund, Red Sea Souk and Red Sea Labs, the Foundation supports filmmakers and projects across development, financing, production and post-production, industry access and international exhibition.
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