‘Lost Land’ Wins Best Film At Red Sea International Film Festival
The Silver Yusr was awarded to 'All That’s Left Of You' from Cherien Dabis, while the Jury Prize went to 'Hijra' from Saudi filmmaker Shahad Ameen.
Akio Fujimoto’s Lost Land, about two Rohingya siblings fleeing persecution in Myanmar, was awarded the Golden Yusr for Best Feature Film at this year’s Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF, December 4-13).
The film, which is a co-production between Japan, France, Malaysia and Germany, premiered in Venice Horizons where it won the Special Jury Prize, and has since won prizes at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, as well as Pingyao and QCinema film festivals. Filmed in a docudrama style, the Rohingya-language drama follows the siblings as they flee a refugee camp in Bangladesh and attempt to enter Malaysia.
The Silver Yusr was awarded to Palestinian historical drama All That’s Left Of You from Cherien Dabis, while the Jury Prize went to Hijra from Saudi filmmaker Shahad Ameen. Hijra also won the AlUla Audience Award For Best Saudi Film.
Yunan from Germany-based Syrian filmmaker Ameer Fakher Eldin was a multiple award winner, taking Best Director and Best Actor for George Khabbaz. Best Actress went to Korea’s Seo Su-Bin for coming-of-age story The World Of Love, the first Korean film to play in RSIFF competition.
Chinese director Zhang Zhongchen took the Cinematic Achievement award for Nighttime Sounds, which also recently won Best Director in the Fei Mu Awards of Pingyao film festival (see below for full list of RSIFF winners).
The festival's main competition jury was headed by Sean Baker and also included Nadine Labaki, Olga Kurylenko and Naomie Harris.
RSIFF has had a slew of stars attending since it kicked off on December 4 including Adrien Brody, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Kirsten Dunst, Jessica Alba, Dakota Johson, Riz Ahmed and Salman Khan, along with industry legends Sir Michael Caine, Juliette Binoche, Rachid Bouchareb and Stanley Tong.
At the closing ceremony, Idris Elba, Darren Aronofsky and Anthony Hopkins were all presented with honorary awards. The festival officially wraps on December 13.
RED SEA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2025:
Golden Yusr Best Feature Film: Lost Land, dir: Akio Fujimoto
Silver Yusr Feature Film: All That’s Left Of You, dir: Cherien Dabis
Yusr Jury Prize: Hijra, dir: Shahad Ameen
Yusr Best Director: Ameer Fakher Eldin, Yunan
Yusr Best Screenplay: Cyril Aris & Bane Fakih, A Sad And Beautiful World
Yusr Best Actor: George Khabbaz, Yunan
Yusr Best Actress: Seo Su-Bin, The World Of Love
Asharq Best Documentary: In-I In Motion, dir: Juliette Binoche
AlUla Audience Award For Best Saudi Film: Hijra, dir: Shahad Ameen
AlUla Audience Award For Best Non-Saudi Film: My Father’s Scent, dir: Mohamed Siam
Golden Yusr Best Short Film: Coyotes, dir: Said Zagha
Yusr Cinematic Achievement: Nighttime Sounds, dir: Zhang Zhongchen
