The management of the Red Sea International Film Festival announced an urgent and important decision to immediately close the sites of Culture Square and the Red Sea Market, effective Tuesday, December 9, which disrupts the event schedule.
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This decisive and emergency decision comes due to difficult weather conditions, specifically the unstable weather situation currently experienced by the coastal Jeddah province, characterized by heavy rainfall over wide areas.

The festival management clarified that this temporary closure falls under the principle of complete and absolute care for the safety of visitors and all workers and participants in the festival’s events, placing everyone’s safety as the top priority.

In the context of the measures taken, the festival management also confirmed the cancellation of all film screenings scheduled for this day in their entirety, in addition to canceling all activities and programs that were scheduled within the festival’s events, meaning a comprehensive halt to activities.

The festival management called on all audiences and followers to follow the festival’s official channels, including its accounts on social media platforms and its official application, to stay constantly updated on the latest developments regarding the postponement or rescheduling of screenings.

Culture Square and the Red Sea Market are considered among the most vital and central sites hosting a large number of discussion programs and film screenings within the festival’s events, making their closure impactful on the daily schedule.

This swift administrative decision reflects the Red Sea Festival’s commitment to dealing with caution and great attention to the weather warnings issued by the competent authorities, ensuring no one’s life is endangered under the poor weather conditions.

Saudi Al Hilal Club.

Red Sea International Film Festival

The Red Sea International Film Festival is an annual event launched in 2019 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as part of the nation’s broader cultural transformation under Vision 2030. It quickly became a major platform to showcase Arab, African, and Asian cinema while fostering global cinematic exchange. The festival symbolizes Saudi Arabia’s opening to international arts and provides a significant new hub for filmmakers in the region.

Culture Square

Culture Square is a prominent public plaza located in the heart of Shanghai, China. Originally developed in the 1990s, it is surrounded by major cultural institutions like the Shanghai Grand Theatre and the Shanghai Museum, symbolizing the city’s modern urban renewal and dedication to the arts. Today, it serves as a central gathering space for both locals and tourists, hosting public events and offering views of the city’s iconic skyline.

Red Sea Market

The Red Sea Market is a modern shopping and entertainment complex located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which opened in 2021. While the complex itself is new, its name and design pay homage to Jeddah’s ancient history as a major historic port on the Red Sea, a crossroads for trade and pilgrims for centuries. It serves as a contemporary hub that reflects the city’s cultural and economic revitalization.

Jeddah province

Jeddah province, located on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast, is home to the historic port city of Jeddah, a gateway for pilgrims traveling to Mecca for centuries. Its historic core, Al-Balad, is a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring traditional coral stone houses and merchant mansions dating back to the 19th century. Today, it is a major commercial hub and the second-largest urban center in Saudi Arabia.

Red Sea Festival

The Red Sea Festival is an annual international film festival launched in 2020 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as part of the nation’s broader cultural and economic transformation under Vision 2030. It was established to showcase global cinema and foster the regional film industry, quickly becoming a major cinematic event in the Middle East.