The Red Sea International Film Festival has revealed a distinguished lineup of films from the Arab Levant for its fifth edition, scheduled to take place from December 4 to 13, 2025, in the heart of the country, the historic city of Jeddah.

These works explore themes of war, loss, and fear, while also highlighting spaces of love, hope, and self-discovery, presenting a collection of human stories from Palestine, Jordan, and Lebanon—stories that resonate with audiences and encourage reflection on the region’s realities and transformations.

From Palestine, films such as Palestine 1936, What’s Left of You, and Endangered focus on living with loss and change, while Jonah takes viewers on a visually striking journey with a man isolated on a remote island, haunted by a mysterious family story, as he confronts himself and the limits of despair.

Jordanian films Drowning and Revolution of Anger address family stories with deep human insight.

From Lebanon, the festival features five films offering diverse perspectives on life in the Arab Levant: Jim 1983, Did They Bomb Here Tonight?, The End, She Swims, and Stars of Hope and Pain, all presenting impactful visual approaches to war, memory, love, and the search for life’s true meaning.

The festival also spotlights The Voice of Hind Rajab by Tunisian director Kawthar Ben Hania (produced in Tunisia, France, and the United States), a hybrid documentary-drama depicting the final hours of Palestinian girl Hind Rajab in Gaza, offering a sensitive and precise cinematic treatment. The screening will mark the film’s Saudi Arabian premiere.

Faisal Baltyour, CEO of the Red Sea International Film Festival, commented on the Arab Levant films’ participation: "This year’s films from Palestine, Jordan, and Lebanon reveal exceptional depth in storytelling and breadth in vision. They tackle complex regional issues with artistic boldness, bringing the narratives to life while reflecting genuine human depth."

Featured Films

Palestine 1936 – Directed by Ann Marie Jaser

Co-production: Palestine, UK, France, Denmark, Norway, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan

Set in 1936, amid a widespread uprising across Mandate Palestine, Yusuf, caught between his rural home and the charged atmosphere of Jerusalem, longs for peace. With Jewish immigrants fleeing European fascism, the region quickly moves toward a major confrontation. The historical drama Palestine 1936 explores the Palestinian Arab revolt against British colonial rule, focusing on individuals caught in the conflict and the human cost of the uprising. The film follows farmers, city residents, and British officers as they navigate the turmoil, examining the unexpected choices and challenges faced by its characters.

Jonah – Directed by Amir Fakhruddin

Co-production: Germany, Canada, Italy, Palestine, Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia

Haunted by a mysterious family legacy, Munir (George Khabbaz) escapes to a remote island to reflect on a radical decision. There, he meets the enigmatic Valiska and her strict yet loyal son Karl. Through quiet gestures and sparse dialogue, doubt fades, reigniting Munir’s desire for life. Like the prophet Jonah, thrown into the sea and returned to land, Munir confronts estrangement and lost dreams. As his mother’s memory fades, he struggles to recall the cursed shepherd story she once told him. The film immerses viewers in Munir’s gripping frustration.

What’s Left of You – Directed by Shireen Daibes

Co-production: Germany, Greece, Jordan, Cyprus, Palestine

This poignant family drama traces three generations of Palestinians from 1948 to 2022, revealing the profound effects of the Nakba. The story begins in 1988 with Noor, a young man joining a protest in the West Bank that turns violent. Decades later, his mother Hanan recounts her son’s story, starting from the expulsion of her father from Haifa in 1948. Despite hardship, the family clings to hope of returning to their ancestral home. The love story between Hanan and her husband Salim serves as a beacon of light, while intimate performances explore how painful history and heritage shape familial bonds, filled with moments of joy, love, and humor.

Endangered – Directed by Saeed Zgha

Co-production: Palestine, France, Jordan, UK

On her way home after a night shift at a hospital, a Palestinian surgeon must traverse a rough path in the West Bank, only to realize this isolated route leads to a pivotal moment that could change her life forever.

Drowning – Directed by Zain Dri’ah

Co-production: Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, France, Estonia

Behind the facade of a perfect life, Nadia (40), a wife and mother of three, struggles with marital issues and a lost sense of self, leaving her emotionally isolated. Her only real connection is with her eldest son Basil, a brilliant but antisocial high school student. When his violent behavior at school leads to suspension, Nadia’s world collapses. On the verge of a breakdown, she tries to care for him while grappling with his undiagnosed mental illness. The film offers an intimate look at maternal bonds and unconditional love amid chaos.

Revolution of Anger – Directed by Aisha Shahal Touk

Jordanian production

The short film tells the story of two sisters fleeing to save their lives, driving a blue pickup truck through a remote area, trying to escape their father’s wrath following a tragic accident. Yet they must confront a darker truth no distance can outrun—can they truly return home?

Jim 1983 – Directed by George Abu Mohayya

Lebanese production

Jim 1983 is a 2D animated short inspired by true events, following a seven-year-old boy navigating Beirut during the 1983 Lebanese civil war. Jim imposes his own ceasefire, seizing a moment to escape the harsh realities of war, reclaiming his city with the help of a superhero conjured from his imagination. He plays with children, mocks armed militia members, and faces the return to home when the ceasefire ends, where a new kind of fear awaits.

Stars of Hope and Pain – Directed by Cyril Ariss

Co-production: Lebanon, USA, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Qatar

Nino and Yasmina were born amid a tragic massacre in Beirut and formed a cosmic bond from childhood. Through shared hardships—Nino losing his parents, Yasmina’s parents divorcing—they forge an unbreakable connection. Yasmina dreams of escape, suggesting a magical train to a remote island. Nino agrees, but their plan fails when she must leave. Fate reunites them 24 years later, and despite her pessimism, Yasmina is drawn to Nino’s optimism. They fall in love, abandoning plans to emigrate, swept into the depth of their enduring bond. A story of longing, love, and destiny captured through compelling performances.

Did They Bomb Here Tonight? – Directed by Samir Seryani

Lebanese production

The film follows Lebanese couple Samir and Nadine through a sleepless night, fearful that an Israeli airstrike could shatter the glass walls of their home. With their children nearby, they face an impossible choice: stay and risk their safety or leave behind the life they worked hard to build.

The End – Directed by Rudolf Shadid

Lebanese production

In an isolated Lebanese village, Naeem and Amal, married for 50 years, face emptiness as their children left during the war decades ago. Feeling a deep void, Amal seeks to revive their relationship and rediscover life’s meaning, prompting Naeem to write the story of their lives. Reluctantly, he agrees, embarking on an intimate journey through forgotten memories and unspoken truths. The film portrays a cinematic depiction of love and life’s intimate details, celebrating how film can transform memory into beauty.

She Swims – Directed by Lillian Rahal

Lebanese production

After a plane crash kills her cousin, the director embarks on a personal journey seeking closure from her grief. The tragedy is recounted through the bereaved mother’s perspective, with impressionistic visuals reflecting nature’s cycles, inviting reflection on human behavior in the face of loss and absence.

The Voice of Hind Rajab – Directed by Kawthar Ben Hania

Co-production: Tunisia, France, USA

The Voice of Hind Rajab is a hybrid documentary-drama telling the harrowing story of six-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab, killed during the Israeli war on Gaza. In January 2024, Hind was trapped for hours in a car, caught between the bodies of her aunt, uncle, and cousins, becoming the sole survivor. She remained in contact for hours with Red Crescent volunteers navigating military and governmental permissions to reach her. The film transcends traditional cinema, becoming a powerful work of resistance and a vital record of memory. Director Kawthar Ben Hania presents a moving testimony of the tragic realities of war, leaving a lasting impact on audiences.