A strong showing of eight UK films at this year’s festival spotlights a vital partnership between the country and the Red Sea Foundation, according to Nils Astrand, UK co-producer on Annemarie Jacir’s Palestine 36.
“It’s important that British films not only get seen in the Western world but also across the globe, and vice-versa,” said Astrand, who works at UK firm Corniche Media, the production company founded by Saudi producer Hani Farsi.
Palestine 36 had its MENA premiere last night in the Arab Spectacular strand. Corniche previously collaborated with the Red Sea Foundation on Ahd’s Jeddah-set My Driver And I, produced by the UK’s Caspian Films and launched at last year’s festival. Astrand described the Foundation as “vital partners”, adding, “from funding to exhibition, they’ve helped bring these films into the world”.
Further UK-Irish titles this year include Rowan Athale’s festival opener Giant; Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn’s Irish football drama Saipan; Hajj pilgrimage documentary Human Tide; and Mark Jenkin’s Rose Of Nevada, starring George MacKay and Callum Turner.
The “vibrant” UK presence at Red Sea reflects “the growing creative and cultural connections between Arabic and British cinema,” said Rose Of Nevada producer Denzil Monk ahead of the film’s screening tomorrow.
“We hope it will both help this film reach wider audiences across the MENA regions and attract co-production partners from the Middle East that resonate with our approach,” he added.
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