Three-week workshop supported the cohort’s 11 feature film projects through scene shooting with professional crews, one-on-one mentorship, industry consultations and access to the Film Independent Forum
Jeddah : Red Sea Labs, one of the key pillars of the Red Sea Film Foundation, has concluded the Los Angeles workshop of the seventh edition of its Feature Films Program, delivered in partnership with Film Independent and held from 19 September to 10 October 2026.
Building on the programme’s earlier workshop in Seoul, the Los Angeles edition supported the cohort’s 11 feature film projects through group script feedback, one-on-one consultations, practical scene shooting and editing, and industry engagement. This year’s cohort also marked a milestone for the programme, welcoming projects from Oman and Cambodia for the first time. These included Romdoul, the Evening Fragrance from Cambodia, directed by Lomorpich Rithy (YoKi), produced by Laura Mam and written by Kyla Romero, and Zahra of the Mountain from Oman, written and directed by Sultan Al Qamshouai and produced by Sulaiman Al Hatmi.
At the centre of the workshop was a practical directing exercise at Avenue 6 Studios, where participating teams rehearsed and shot selected scenes from their projects with professional actors and crew, edited their footage, and received feedback from mentors and peers. Teams also worked through one-on-one consultations with script consultant and story editor Ruth Atkinson, cinematographer Irvin Liu and editor Randi Atkins.
Participants attended the Film Independent Forum on 25 and 26 September, gaining access to industry talks, screenings and networking opportunities. The workshop also featured dedicated screenings and Q&A sessions with writer-director Sean Wang (Dìdi) and with writer-director Uttera Singh and cinematographer Adam Linzey (Pinch), offering direct insight into their creative processes and filmmaking journeys, alongside a Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos presentation and dedicated pitching guidance.
Faisal Baltyuor, CEO of the Red Sea Film Foundation, said: “The Feature Films Program exists to give filmmakers the time, the mentorship and the rooms they need to turn a project into a film. To see this cohort developing their work alongside the industry in Los Angeles is exactly what our partnership with Film Independent was built for.”
Ryan Ashore, Director of Red Sea Labs, said: “We want filmmakers to dream bigger, take bold risks, and discover what only they can bring to the screen. Red Sea Labs exists to turn that possibility into something real.”
The Feature Films Program forms part of Red Sea Labs’ year-round commitment to supporting filmmakers from Saudi Arabia, the Arab world, Africa and Asia through sustained development, international exchange and access to professional networks.
