Shivani Pandya Malhotra has stepped down as common supervisor of Saudi Arabia‘s Red Sea Film Festival after playing an instrumental role in building the event from scratch and, over the course of five editions, turning it into one of the Arab world’s most outstanding festivals and the highest film market within the MENA [Middle East and North Africa] area.
The Crimson Sea fest and market held in metropolis of Jeddah, on the Crimson Sea’s jap shore, was established in 2019, with its inaugural version happening in 2020, two years after Saudi Arabia lifted its 35-year ban on business film theaters.
In its second yr, the Crimson Sea fest hosted almost 40,000 filmgoers and greater than 4,000 movie professionals over 10 days in December 2022 and boasted a jury hosted by Oliver Stone. For the 2023 version, subtitled “Your Story, Your Festival,” Pandya Malhotra and her group secured Baz Luhrmann as president of the jury and a lineup of movies together with Kaouther Ben Hania’s “Four Daughters” and director-star Maïwenn’s interval drama “Jeanne du Barry,” co-starring Johnny Depp, one of many 170 movies supported by the Crimson Sea Fund. Final yr Sean Baker presided over the jury of a star-studded version of the Crimson Sea fest that kicked off with Dakota Johnson, Uma Thurman, Ana de Armas, Queen Latifah, Vin Diesel and Michael Caine amongst stars on the crimson carpet.
“After seven incredible years and five remarkable editions of the Red Sea International Film Festival, I leave with immense pride in everything we have built together,” Pandya Malhotra mentioned in a press release.
“It has been a privilege to be part of the Foundation’s journey from the very beginning and to witness its growth into a globally respected institution,” she added. “I am deeply grateful to our Chairwoman Jomana Al Rashid, CEO Faisal Baltyour, our leadership, partners, filmmakers, colleagues, and the wider film community whose passion and commitment have helped shape this success. While I am excited about the next chapter, the Red Sea Film Foundation will always hold a very special place in my heart,” Pandya Malhotra continued.
Final yr’s version of the Crimson Sea fest was additionally the primary one held underneath the watch of Saudi Arabian movie trade pioneer Faisal Baltyuor who in Could, 2025, was appointed CEO of the Crimson Sea Basis that oversees the competition in addition to the Crimson Sea Fund, and its year-round Crimson Sea Labs.
It’s believed that Baltyuor’s imaginative and prescient for the fest going ahead clashed with Pandya Malhotra’s mode of operation, in response to sources.
Baltyour commented: “Shivani has played an important role in the Foundation’s journey, working alongside a talented team of Saudi and international professionals to help shape its growth. We thank her for her contributions and wish her every success in the next chapter of her career.”
Pandya Malhotra, who has over 25 years of expertise within the leisure trade – and previous to the Crimson Sea fest managed the now defunct Dubai Movie Competition – not too long ago ventured into movie manufacturing as government producer of Yemeni-Scottish director Sara Ishaq’s Yemen-set drama “The Station” that in Could premiered positively from the Cannes Critics’ Week.
