The Red Sea Film Festival Foundation has unveiled the recipients of the Red Sea Fund’s 2026 production and post-production funding cycles, with multiple African films selected for the Fund’s grants.
Cycle 1, which is dedicated to post-production, features 13 projects from a record 220 submissions, six of which have already premiered internationally. The 17 selections for Cycle 2, which is dedicated to films in production, were picked from 696 submissions.
Some of the African films that have received grants from the Red Sea Fund include:
Ben’imana (Rwanda)
Director: Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo
Producers: Samantha Biffot, Marie-Epiphanie Uwayezu
Guardian of the Island (Ethiopia)
Director: Sewmehon Yismaw Sendekie
Producer: Tamirat Mekonen Teklu
Pieces (South Africa)
Director: Imran Hamdulay
Producer: Adam Thal
Let Us Fight (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Director: Eli Maene
Producer: Maisha Maene
“These two cycles reflect exactly what the Red Sea Fund is here to do: identify bold, distinctive projects and support filmmakers at critical stages of their journey,” said Red Sea Fim Foundation CEO Faisal Baltyuor. “The international momentum already building around several Cycle 1 titles is a strong testament to the calibre of the work, and we are excited to see the Cycle 2 projects continue that journey.”
The Red Sea Fund is a funding program provided by the Red Sea Film Foundation to support the local, Arab, and African markets. It has backed over 100 directors and 250 films, turning cinematic visions into reality. Funding opportunities encompass the three film stages: development, production, and post-production in four cycles.