The Red Sea International Film Festival is back in Al-Balad, Historic Jeddah, from December 4–13, and the Festival Favourites strand is shaping up to be one of its most exciting yet. Featuring international premieres, Oscar contenders, and bold new voices, this year’s lineup gathers the best of the global festival circuit — from Cannes and Venice to Busan and Toronto.
Out of the 12 titles being showcased, we’ve handpicked the six that have us most excited — films that break hearts, challenge ideas, and showcase the kind of cinematic storytelling that lingers long after the lights come on.
My Father’s Scent — Directed by Mohamed Siam
Egypt’s Mohamed Siam delivers a masterclass in tension and intimacy with My Father’s Scent. Set over one long night, the story traps a father and son in a single apartment as they unearth long-buried secrets and painful memories. What begins as a confrontation becomes something more profound — a fragile attempt at reconciliation. Siam turns this confined setting into a poetic exploration of grief, masculinity, and the enduring weight of family ties.
Girl — Directed by Shu Qi
Marking her directorial debut, Shu Qi — the beloved star of Asian cinema — delivers Girl, a hauntingly beautiful coming-of-age story set in 1980s Taiwan. Hsiao-lee grows up in a home ruled by fear and abuse, until she meets Li-li, a fearless girl who shows her that life can be full of color.
With raw emotion and poetic visuals, Shu Qi turns personal pain into art, earning her the Best Director Award at Busan. It’s a debut that promises to stay with you long after the final scene.
Kwibuka, Remember — Directed by Jonas D’Adesky
Directed by Jonas D’Adesky and led by France’s Sonia Rolland, Kwibuka, Remember revisits Rwanda through the lens of memory and identity. Rolland plays Lia, a Belgian-Rwandan basketball player nearing retirement, who’s invited to return to the homeland she fled during the genocide.
What follows is a quiet, powerful confrontation with loss, silence, and belonging — a moving portrayal of how the past never really lets go.
Late Shift — Directed by Petra Volpe
From Swiss director Petra Volpe, Late Shift is an emotionally charged ode to the people who hold the world together — caregivers. The film follows Floria, a nurse navigating one impossible day in an understaffed hospital ward.
As pressure mounts and exhaustion sets in, Volpe crafts a story that’s as suspenseful as it is deeply human. It’s Switzerland’s official Oscar submission, and a poignant reminder of how much unseen strength exists in everyday heroes.
Primavera — Directed by Damiano Michieletto
A feast for the senses, Damiano Michieletto’s Primavera transports viewers to 18th-century Venice and the cloistered world of an orphanage for musically gifted girls. When Antonio Vivaldi arrives as their new teacher, one young violinist’s life is forever changed.
Adapted from Tiziano Scarpa’s novel Stabat Mater, this elegant period drama blends lush visuals, emotional depth, and breathtaking music to explore art, freedom, and destiny.
The Secret Agent — Directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho
Winner of Best Director and Best Actor at Cannes, The Secret Agent by Kleber Mendonça Filho is a political thriller with bite. Set during Brazil’s 1977 dictatorship, the film follows a fugitive academic (Wagner Moura) trying to reunite with his son in Recife — only to find himself ensnared in a dangerous web of lies.
Stylish, satirical, and packed with tension, this is Brazil’s Academy Award submission — and one of the most electrifying films of the year.
Why These Films Stand Out
From Shu Qi’s intimate debut to Kleber Mendonça Filho’s razor-sharp political drama, these films showcase what makes the Festival Favourites strand unmissable: fearless storytelling, global talent, and deeply human themes. They remind us why we love film — because it dares to move, challenge, and connect us.
Catch them all at the Red Sea International Film Festival 2025, running December 4–13 in Jeddah’s historic Al-Balad — and prepare to discover the stories everyone will be talking about.
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