The third edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival, located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is culminating next month with a grand closing-night gala. The highlight of the evening will be the screening of “Ferrari,” a biopic directed by Michael Mann, featuring a star-studded cast including Adam Driver, Penelope Cruz, Shailene Woodley, and Patrick Dempsey. This screening of “Ferrari” will be particularly significant as it marks the film’s Middle East and North Africa premiere.
In addition to the gala, the festival’s organizers have revealed an exciting lineup for the International Spectacular program. This segment is dedicated to showcasing a diverse range of cinema from around the world, including works from celebrated auteurs and renowned filmmakers. Films being screened for the first time in the Arab world include Sofia Coppola’s biopic “Priscilla,” Ava Duvernay’s “Origin,” and Hayao Miyazaki’s “The Boy and the Heron.” Other notable features in this lineup are John Woo’s “Silent Night,” Léa Domenach’s “Bernadette (The President’s Wife)” starring Catherine Deneuve, and Yann Mounir Demange’s short film “Dammi” with Riz Ahmed.
Mohammed Al-Turki, the CEO of the Red Sea Film Foundation, expressed his excitement about “Ferrari,” highlighting the film’s importance to the festival. The film has been a project close to the festival’s heart, receiving support from the Red Sea International Film Financing. This initiative aims to promote acclaimed storytellers and foster cultural exchange. Al-Turki praised Michael Mann’s film for its craftsmanship and empathetic portrayal of the ambitious genius behind one of the world’s most iconic car brands.
Kaleem Aftab, the festival’s director of international programming, also shared his enthusiasm for “Ferrari,” describing it as a film that combines passion, love, and business, with a visual richness that matches the beauty of its automotive subjects. He noted that the film is an apt conclusion to both this year’s festival and its International Strand, which has been a collection of the most exciting and groundbreaking features from the current festival circuit.
The plot of “Ferrari” is set in the summer of 1957, focusing on Formula 1 ex-racer Enzo Ferrari, portrayed by Adam Driver. The film delves into Ferrari’s personal and professional crises, including the threat of bankruptcy to his factory and the challenges in his volatile marriage following the loss of his son, Dino. The screenplay, written by Troy Kennedy Martin, is an adaptation of Brock Yates’ 1991 biography “Enzo Ferrari: The Man, the Cars, the Races, the Machine,” providing a deep dive into the life of the legendary motorsport figure.
