Shivani Pandya Malhotra Leaves Red Sea Film Foundation
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- Shivani Pandya Malhotra announced her departure as Managing Director of the Red Sea Film Foundation effective June 1, ending a seven‑year tenure.
- Shivani Pandya Malhotra joined the foundation in early 2019, two years after Saudi Arabia lifted its cinema ban, and helped launch the Red Sea International Film Festival’s first edition in 2021.
- Shivani Pandya Malhotra previously served as Managing Director of the Dubai International Film Festival and the Gulf Film Festival, bringing over a decade of festival experience to the Red Sea foundation.
- Red Sea International Film Festival grew from a make‑shift cinema in Jeddah’s Al‑Balad old city in 2021 to one of the Middle East’s largest film festivals, now a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 cultural‑economic diversification.
- Saudi Arabia’s recent spending restraints and regional geopolitical tensions have raised questions about the festival’s ability to continue financing high‑profile Hollywood star invitations.
Why it matters: The festival loses a seasoned leader; Saudi Arabia’s tighter spending and regional tensions raise questions about the budget for high‑profile Hollywood star invitations, limiting the event’s international visibility.
