Shivani Malhotra Exits Red Sea Film Festival
SkimNews Take
The rapid growth of the Red Sea Film Festival under Malhotra suggests that establishing a major cultural event in a region with significant resources can quickly attract top talent, even for a nascent institution.
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- Shivani Pandya Malhotra stepped down as general manager of the Red Sea International Film Festival after seven years and five editions, having built it from scratch into one of the Arab world's most prominent festivals.
- The Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah was established in 2019 and held its inaugural edition in 2020, two years after Saudi Arabia lifted its 35-year ban on commercial cinemas; it is now the top movie market in the MENA region.
- The festival's second edition in 2022 drew nearly 40,000 filmgoers and more than 4,000 film professionals over 10 days, with Oliver Stone hosting the jury.
- The 2023 edition, subtitled "Your Story, Your Festival," secured Baz Luhrmann as jury president and included Kaouther Ben Hania's "Four Daughters" and Maïwenn's "Jeanne du Barry," one of 170 films backed by the Red Sea Fund.
- Faisal Baltyuor, appointed CEO of the Red Sea Foundation in May 2025, oversaw last year's edition; sources say his vision for the festival clashed with Pandya Malhotra's mode of operation.
- Pandya Malhotra brings 25-plus years of industry experience, previously ran the now-defunct Dubai Film Festival, and recently produced Sara Ishaq's "The Station," which premiered at Cannes Critics' Week in May.
Why it matters: A founder-era leader exits the MENA region's largest film market just one edition into the tenure of the foundation's new CEO, with sources citing a vision clash. Baltyuor now has full operational control heading into the festival's sixth edition, with the 170-film Red Sea Fund as a key programming and financing lever.
