Lotfi Achour’s “Red Path” triumphs at Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia
The 4th Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, crowned the Tunisian drama Red Path, directed by Lotfi Achour, with its top honors on December 12, 2024. Achour’s film secured the prestigious Golden Yusr for best film and the best director award, accompanied by cash prizes of $100,000 and $30,000, respectively. The awards were presented by jury head and Oscar-winning filmmaker Spike Lee, who noted the coincidence of Achour’s birthday, making the double recognition a particularly poignant moment.
Red Path, which premiered earlier at Locarno, draws from a harrowing true story of two young shepherds attacked by a jihadist group. When one is killed, the survivor is coerced into delivering his cousin’s severed head back to their family. The film’s powerful narrative captivated both audiences and jury members, with UK actress Minnie Driver, a juror, describing it as "one of the most affecting, extraordinary and inspiring films I’ve ever seen."
The Silver Yusr went to Mahdi Fleifel’s To A Land Unknown, a poignant tale of two Palestinian refugees navigating desperate circumstances in Athens. Mahmoud Bakri earned the best actor award for his role in the film. Egypt’s Mariam Sherif won best actress for her groundbreaking performance in Snow White, which cast a woman with dwarfism in a lead role for the first time in Egyptian cinema.
Honorary awards recognized the contributions of global icons Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Viola Davis. In her acceptance speech, Davis reflected on the challenges of her career and emphasized the importance of representation, stating, “People who look like me matter too.”
Jomana R. Alrashid, chairwoman of the Red Sea Film Foundation, highlighted the festival’s achievements, noting its role as a hub for Arab, African, and Asian cinema. This year’s event featured 122 films across 300 screenings, attended by 30,000 ticket holders and 530 international delegates.
The star-studded red carpet saw appearances by celebrities including Alia Bhatt, Halle Berry, and Andrew Garfield. The festival also provided a platform for emerging talent and local storytelling through its Red Sea Souk market, which hosted 1,730 delegates.
The festival concluded its awards ceremony with the screening of Modi – Three Days On The Wing Of Madness, directed by Johnny Depp, who attended in person.
Full List of Winners
Golden Yusr Best Feature Film
Red Path (Tunisia) / dir. Lotfi Achour
Silver Yusr Feature Film
To A Land Unknown (Palestine) / dir. Mahdi Fleifel
Yusr Best Director
Lotfi Achour / Red Path (Tunisia)
Yusr Jury Prize
Seeking Haven For Mr. Rambo (Egypt) / dir. Khaled Mansour
Yusr Best Actor
Mahmoud Bakri / To A Land Unknown (Palestine)
Yusr Best Actress
Mariam Sherif / Snow White (Egypt)
Yusr Best Screenplay
Songs Of Adam (Iraq) / scr. Oday Rasheed
Yusr Cinematic Achievement
To Kill A Mongolian Horse (China-HK-Mongolia) / dir. Tao Qiu
Golden Yusr Best Short Film
Hatch (Iran) / dirs. Alireza Kazemipour, Panta Mosleh
Silver Yusr Short Film
Alazar (Ethiopia) / dir. Beza Hailu Lemma
Short Film Special Mention
Children Of Barzagh (UAE) / dir. Ahmed Kattab
Asharq Best Documentary
State Of Silence (Mexico) / dir. Santiago Maza
Chopard Emerging Saudi Talent
Roula Dakheelallah / My Driver And I (Saudi Arabia)
Film AlUla Audience Award – International Film
Little Jafna (France) / dir. Lawrence Valin
Film AlUla Audience Award – Saudi Film
Hobal / dir. Abdulaziz Alshlahei