Red Sea Fund Selects 30 Projects Across First Two 2026 Cycles
The Red Sea Fund picked 30 projects from 916 submissions in its first two 2026 cycles, including Gaza Forever and Tarfaya.
The Red Sea Fund has unveiled the 30 projects selected across its first two 2026 funding cycles, drawing from a combined pool of 916 submissions. Cycle one, dedicated to post-production projects, received 220 submissions and selected 13 projects. Cycle two, for projects in production, received 696 submissions and selected 17 projects.
Among the cycle two selections are Gaza Forever by Tarzan and Arab Nasser, Tarfaya by Sofia Alaoui, and Lotus Feet by Amanda Nell Eu. Five Saudi projects were chosen in cycle two, underscoring the fund's continued support for local filmmaking.
The announcement arrives days after the Red Sea Film Foundation cancelled its annual Jeddah festival, which had been planned for December. Deadline reported the selections.
Building on a Track Record
The Nasser brothers won Cannes Un Certain Regard for Once Upon A Time In Gaza in 2025, while Alaoui and Eu have both built international profiles through previous work. Eu's debut feature Tiger Stripes was released in 2023.
Other regional filmmakers have also found recent success: Ben'imana by Marie Clémentine Dusabejambo won the Caméra d'Or at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival after premiering in Un Certain Regard, and Angh by Theja Rio won the Platform Award at Toronto, qualifying it for the Best International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards.
Quick answers
How many projects did the Red Sea Fund select in its first two 2026 cycles?
The fund selected 30 projects in total: 13 from cycle one (post-production) and 17 from cycle two (in production).
Which projects were selected in cycle two?
Cycle two selections include Gaza Forever by Tarzan and Arab Nasser, Tarfaya by Sofia Alaoui, and Lotus Feet by Amanda Nell Eu, among 17 projects.
How many submissions did each cycle receive?
Cycle one received 220 submissions and cycle two received 696 submissions.