According to a statement from the Red Sea Film Foundation, the decision follows a comprehensive review of several factors related to the timing of the upcoming edition, including the logistical requirements of organizing an international event of this scale. The foundation said it wants to hold the festival under the right conditions and at a time when it can offer the experience it is known for.
The sixth edition will return in 2027 with a renewed vision and a program that will continue to celebrate cinema and filmmakers from Saudi Arabia, the region and around the world, the statement said. The foundation also reaffirmed its commitment to developing the festival and building on the achievements of previous editions.
The foundation’s year-round programs will continue supporting filmmakers and developing the film industry through the Red Sea Fund, Red Sea Labs and other programs and initiatives run by the organization.
The foundation is also preparing to launch a series of year-round cultural and film programs in historic Jeddah starting in November 2026. The program will include film screenings, cultural events and specialized film-industry activities. Further details and dates will be announced through the foundation’s official channels.
The sixth edition had been scheduled to take place in Jeddah from December 3 to 12, after the foundation opened submissions for the festival earlier this year.
The festival’s official pages show that submissions for the sixth edition have already closed.
Read also : Moroccan Director Yza Nouiga’s ‘Imichki’ to Make World Premiere at Toronto International Film Festival
The Red Sea Film Foundation did not link the postponement to any political or security developments in its official statement. Instead, it cited factors related to the festival’s timing and the logistical requirements involved in organizing an international event of this scale.
Media reports, however, have linked the postponement to the ongoing tensions and instability in the region, which have created challenges for international travel, hosting foreign delegations and organizing major events. The reports presented these factors as part of the wider regional context, but the foundation has not confirmed them as a direct reason for the postponement.
