TikTok to Sponsor Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival, RSIFF

TikTok has joined the lineup of sponsors of the Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) ahead of its fourth edition, running in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Dec. 5-14.

The social media video platform will be sponsoring a new short film competition “offering creatives, entertainment enthusiasts and industry insiders around the world an opportunity to express themselves, connect with a global community and share stories behind-the-scenes.” Participants can submit their original shorts in the vertical format using the hashtags #RedSeaIFF24 and #TheNewHomeOfFilm.

Three finalists will be selected to produce their short films, with a gold winner set to be unveiled at the RSIFF’s Red Sea Souk Awards on Dec. 10.

Beyond its new RSIFF competition and during the festival, “TikTok will also offer a range of activities on the ground at the festival, including presenting an official live stream of the RSIFF’s glittering opening and closing ceremonies, sharing exclusive interviews with industry leaders, actors and filmmakers and hosting a workshop at the festival’s industry hub, the Red Sea Souk,” or market, the company said.

The company, which recently rolled out TikTok Spotlight, a marketing tool for studios and the entertainment industry that allows companies to add a link to TikTok videos that feature content relevant to an upcoming film or library content, says it has more than 1 billion users around the world.

“One of our key missions at RSIFF is to increase the platform of films from the Arab, African and Asian regions, and with their truly global user base and commitments to diversifying the ways in which films of all forms are viewed and shared, TikTok is the perfect partner to continue to expand our festival to new audiences from around the world,” said Samaher Mously, director of marketing and communication at the Red Sea Film Foundation.

“As a platform that champions creativity and the power of storytelling, we are thrilled to partner with the Red Sea International Film Festival to celebrate and elevate filmmakers from around the world,” said Kinda Ibrahim, regional general manager of operations at TikTok Middle East, Turkey, Africa, Pakistan, Central and South Asia. “This collaboration reflects our dedication to supporting filmmakers, content creators, and industry professionals by providing new ways to share their stories and connect with audiences worldwide. From live-streaming key festival moments to hosting engaging workshops and the short film competition, we look forward to showcasing how TikTok continues to influence and inspire the entertainment industry on a global scale.”

Spike Lee will head up the RSIFF 2024 competition jury.