The fifth Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF), will be running from December 4 to 13 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and will showcase an impressive selection of East African cinema.
Among the feature films in competition from Africa, Asia, and the Arab world, three hailed from East Africa, each offering a compelling narrative.
Representing Kenya is Truck Mama , a feature-length documentary directed by Zipporah “Zippy” Nyaruri that will screen today (Sunday) and tomorrow (Monday).
The film follows Eva, a single mother and truck driver in Kenya, who navigates dangerous roads to provide for her family.
In a male-dominated world, she balances long hauls, including from Kenya to Sudan, calls to her children and daily challenges. It explores resilience, courage and a mother’s unwavering love as she forges her own path.
With breathtaking landscapes and a glimpse into East African life, Truck Mama is an inspiring tribute to women who defy obstacles to pursue their dreams.
Truck Mama , whose journey began in 2011 at the now seemingly inactive Lola Kenya Screen film forum, has undergone a long and patient development process supported by a series of labs, film funds and markets, including the Durban Film Mart, Docubox, IDFA Forum, Hot Docs-Blue Ice Docs Fund and the Red Sea Film Foundation.
Uganda’s contribution, Mad Bounty and the Midnight Gun , is a tense thriller directed by Loukman Ali. Set against a post-colonial backdrop, the film follows a bounty hunter navigating Kampala’s criminal underworld.
From Somalia, Mohammed Sheikh’s debut feature Barni delivers a powerful coming-of-age story.
In the Red Sea Shorts Competition, Kenya’s Owadwa (Our Brother) by Shandra Apondi is among the standout entries. The storyline follows John as he helps his autistic brother, Mark Jr, prepare for their sister Mary’s wedding.
Owadwa is among 11 films drawn from the qualifying territories of Asia and Africa. Featuring six female directors and five world premieres, the selection spans scripted, documentary and hybrid storytelling and engages with themes of emigration, mental illness, alienation and historical reckoning.
Directed by Shandra Daisy Apondi (Memory of Princess Mumbi), Owadwa follows a family caught between crisis and celebration.
As family tensions rise, a sudden and unexpected incident exposes long-buried struggles and sacrifices. When Mark disappears just as the groom’s family arrives, John must find him, leading to a confrontation that leaves the family shaken and vulnerable.
The festival also selected 40 feature films and series projects for this year’s edition of the Souk Project Market, the festival’s platform designed to bolster international co-productions and grant access to new projects and talent that will take place from December 6 to10.
24 of the selected titles are currently in development or production, 12 of which have been developed by the Red Sea Labs over the year as part of the Feature Film Program.
Kenya is also represented in the programme with Nkanai , by Bruno Tanya.
Currently in development, Nkanai is a story about a Samburu woman who, after an injury, must reclaim her dignity by navigating dangerous terrain and betrayal with the help of a haunted tracker.
