The Red Sea International Film Festival (Red Sea IFF) welcomed cinema lovers and the global film community to its the third edition which ran from 30th November – 9th December in Jeddah. The Gala also saw the presentation of three honourary awards – to Abdullah Al-Sadhan, presented by Mohammed Al Turki, Diane Kruger, presented by juror Fatih Akin, and Ranveer Singh, presented by Sharon Stone, and a welcome address from festival leadership, and actress Sofia Vergara.

Red Sea IFF 2023 marked its closing by revealing the winners of its highly anticipated Yusr Awards. The festival also welcomed Hollywood icon Nicolas Cage, receiving a Red Sea Honouree award. Two juries deliberated to finally select winners across 14 categories; led by Jury President Baz Luhrmann. Seventeen films in competition, as well as 23 shorts, were in the running for the coveted awards. The festival this year celebrated its biggest year yet in terms of attendance – welcoming almost 6,000 accredited guests and selling more than 40,000 tickets across all screenings and In Conversations. The closing ceremony was attended by Honouree Nicolas Cage, Jason Statham, Halle Berry, Gwyneth Paltrow, Adrien Brody, Dhafer L’Abidine, Henry Golding, Andrew Garfield, Yousra, Kaouther Ben Hania, Alia Bhatt, Mahira Khan, Saswan Badr, Baloji.

Here’s the full list of winners:
Asharq Documentary
Awarded for Best Documentary In Competition – a $10,000 prize
Winner: Kaouther Ben Hania for FOUR DAUGHTERS
Chopard Rising Talent Trophy
Winner: Nour Alkhadra
Film AlUla Audience Award: Saudi

Film
With a $50,000 prize
Winner: NORAH / Saudi Arabia (Red Sea: Competition)
Film AlUla Audience Award: Non-Saudi Film
With a $50,000 prize
Winner: HOPELESS / South Korea (Festival Favourites)

Shorts
SILVER YUSR FOR BEST SHORT FILM
With a $12,500 prize
Winner: SUITCASE – Directed by Saman Hosseinpuor and Ako Zandkarimi

GOLDEN YUSR FOR BEST SHORT FILM
With a $25,000 prize
Winner: SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN – Directed by Dahlia Nemlich

Features
BEST CINEMATIC CONTRIBUTION
Winner: OMEN / Baloji

BEST ACTOR
Winner: Saleh Bakri / THE TEACHER

BEST ACTRESS
Winner: Mouna Hawa / INSHALLAH A BOY

BEST SCREENPLAY
With a $10,000 prize
Winner: SIX FEET OVER / Karim Bensalah and Jamal Belmahi

BEST DIRECTOR
With a $10,000 prize
Winner: Shokir Kholikov / SUNDAY

JURY PRIZEÊ
With a $10,000 prize
Winner: Farah Nabulsi / THE TEACHER

SILVER YUSR FOR BEST FEATURE FILM
With a $30,000
Winner: DEAR JASSI / Tarsem Singh

GOLDEN YUSR FOR BEST FEATURE FILM
With a $100,000 Winner: IN FLAMES / Zarrar Kahn