Hollywood comes to town as Red Sea Film Festival opens in Jeddah

American A-listers rub shoulders with Bollywood and Arab celebrities at glitzy opening ceremony

In this handout photo released by the Red Sea International Festival (RSFF), actors Egyptian Yousra (L), Welsh Catherine Zeta-Jones and US Michael Douglas attend the opening ceremony of the 4th edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival at Culture Square in Jeddah on December 5, 2024. (Photo by Patrick Baz / Red Sea Film Festival / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / RED SEA FILM FESTIVAL " - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTSShow less

“Miss Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas!” the voice of the compere boomed as the Hollywood power couple strode down the red carpet on Thursday at the opening of the Red Sea International Film Festival.

Ordinarily, Jones and Douglas might be the stars of the show. But this was one of those opening ceremonies packed with A-list guests. If you didn’t know better, you’d think half of Hollywood was here to catch some winter sun in Saudi Arabia.

Hosted by the Lebanese-Australian actress and dancer Daniella Rahme and Saudi filmmaker Hakeem Jomah, the show in Jeddah’s Al Balad district lived up to the festival’s branding: “The new home of film.” A beaming Will Smith – his reputation seemingly repaired after his infamous Oscars slap – sat alongside Vin Diesel, who was invited on stage by his Fast and the Furious co-star Michelle Rodriguez to collect an award for his popular characters.

“What is so iconic about a tree?” said Diesel, in good spirits, alluding to his role as Groot in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies.

Vin Diesel being honoured at the opening ceremony. Getty Images

In truth, the stars who’d packed their bags for Jeddah were a curious assortment. Michelle Yeoh, the Oscar-winner from Everything Everywhere All At Once, sat alongside Cynthia Erivo, who had come clearly still in Wicked mode, with a bright green dress and ultra-long nails. Desperate Housewives’ Eva Longoria, looking fabulous in all gold, introduced Indian actor Aamir Khan, one of three guests who received honorary awards. Talk about random. But at least Longoria sounded convincing that she knew who the star of Lagaan actually was.

The other slightly unusual awards went to two female stars: Britain’s Emily Blunt and Egyptian actress Mona Zaki. Earlier in the day, Blunt visited the festival’s cultural centre for an "in conversation" event, with one member of the audience even dressing up as Mary Poppins (the role Blunt reprised in Mary Poppins Returns).

Emily Blunt on the red carpet. Getty Images

Over the next eight days, the festival will host further career-covering Q&As with some of the aforementioned, including Yeoh, Longoria and Erivo, although the highlight for film fans will surely be the appearance of Michael Mann, the veteran director of epic crime saga Heat, which will screen at the festival.

There were some technical hitches on the night – more than once, the autocue prompt was beamed onto the screen in the adjoining cinema where most of the media had gathered to watch the ceremony unfold. Jury president Spike Lee, wearing his trademark beret, gave a speech, movingly recalling his first time in the region when he shot a scene for his epic Malcolm X.

He then introduced his fellow jury members, actors Minnie Driver and Daniel Dae Kim and Egyptian filmmaker Abu Bakr Shawky. Struggling to pronounce her name, Lee mistakenly referred to Turkish actress Tuba Buyukustun as his fellow “brother”, before hastily changing it to “sister”.

Spike Lee is the head of this year's jury. Photo: Red Sea Film Festival

Lee and co will oversee 16 films in completion over the festival, a promising-looking line-up from across the region and beyond. “Hollywood can only do so much,” said Lee, who repeatedly called the festival's selection as “the future of cinema”. That may be wishful thinking, but the point was well made. In four years, the festival has become a leading supporter of cinema in the Middle East, while the Red Sea Fund has become a force in financing Arab and African film projects.

Opening with Saudi-Egyptian co-production The Tale of Daye’s Family, the festival then welcomed revellers to a glitzy open-air party, with musical performances and DJs playing into the night. Like the rest of this curtain-raiser, it was an ostentatious display of wealth. But then again, that’s always what happens when Hollywood comes to town.

Cynthia Erivo at the opening ceremony of the Red Sea International Film Festival 2024 in Jeddah. Getty Images

Michelle Yeoh in Balenciaga. Getty Images

Emily Blunt in Tamara Ralph. Getty Images

Saudi actress Mila Al Zahrani wearing Dana Almulla. AFP

Lebanese presenter Raya Abirached. Reuters

Kareena Kapoor Khan in Oscar de la Renta. Getty Images

Hollywood actress Eva Longoria. Getty Images

Georgina Rodriguez in Alaia. AFP

Hollywood actress Michelle Rodriguez. Getty Images

Egyptian actress Yousra with Hollywood stars Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas at the opening ceremony of the Red Sea International Film Festival. Photo: Red Sea Film Festival

Jordanian actress Saba Mubarak. Getty Images

Egyptian actress Mona Zaki. AFP

Saudi actress and TV presenter Elham Ali. Getty Images

Egyptian actress Mai Omar. Getty Images

Douglas and Zeta-Jones. AFP

Hollywood actress and jury member Minnie Driver. Getty Images

Egyptian actress Yasmine Sabri. Getty Images

Hollywood star Vin Diesel. Getty Images

Jury chair Spike Lee and Will Smith. Getty Images

Bollywood star and director Aamir Khan. Getty Images