Sudan

The fourth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival is underway in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, showcasing over 120 films from 81 countries. This year’s program includes 16 films in the Features Competition. One of the highlights is My Driver and I, a Sudanese drama about the bond between a taxi driver and a young Saudi woman. The film’s lead actor, Mustafa Shehata, describes it as a deeply emotional story of an immigrant driver who treats his young passenger like a daughter, while also longing for his own daughter back in Sudan. Saudi Arabia is aiming to expand its cultural influence, and since the festival’s launch in 2021, it has drawn global talent. This year, Academy Award winners Viola Davis and Spike Lee, as well as Bollywood stars Aamir Khan and Ranbir Kapoor, are attending, enhancing the festival’s growing international profile. However, some critics argue that such events are intended to distract from ongoing concerns over the country’s human rights record. The festival runs through December 14.