The Red Sea Film Foundation Managing Director Shivani Pandya Malhotra has stepped down after seven years in the role.
The Saudi foundation, which runs the Red Sea International Film Festival, announced her departure in a short release on Saturday, saying it had been effective as of June 1.
“After seven incredible years and five remarkable editions of the Red Sea International Film Festival, I leave with immense pride in everything we have built together,” said Pandya Malhotra.
Although not unexpected, news of Pandya Malhotra’s stepping down will spark conversations across the MENA cinema community and beyond over the future direction of the festival unfolding in December in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah.
Pandya Malhotra joined the foundation in early 2019, just two years after Saudi Arabia lifted its cinema ban, and was instrumental in steering the creation of the country’s first international film festival.
The seasoned festival executive brought more than a decade of experience to bear in the role, having previously served as Managing Director of the Dubai International Film Festival and the Gulf Film Festival.
She has been a constant presence in the foundation and festival’s early years, with her tenure spanning three foundation CEOs: Mahmoud Sabbagh, Mohammed Al-Turki and incumbent Faisal Baltyour.
Stalled by the pandemic, the festival’s inaugural edition took place in Jeddah’s Al-Balad old city neighborhood in 2021 with a make-shift cinema, rudimentary industry hub and a smattering of A-list guests and has since grown into one of the biggest film festivals in the Middle East.
The event was seen as a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a major international film and TV hub, which in turn was a pole of the country’s 2030 strategy aimed at opening the country up and shifting the economy away from a reliance on oil.
However, questions have emerged over the future direction of the festival in recent months as Saudi Arabia reins in spending and shifts its priorities, with fallout from the Iran-U.S. War also hanging over the entire Gulf region.
One element of the festival’s development, introduced under Al-Turki, has been the buying in of A-list Hollywood stars to help put the event on the map internationally.
There are questions around whether the festival will have the budget to continue bankrolling talent invites, while there has been pushback in some quarters over how the A-list star strategy serves the local film industry and its organic growth.
Beyond the festival, Pandya Malhotra also contributed to the development of a number of year-round foundation initiatives including the Red Sea Souk, Labs and Fund, which now play a crucial role in the local and regional indie film landscape.
“It has been a privilege to be part of the Foundation’s journey from the very beginning and to witness its growth into a globally respected institution,” added Pandya Malhotra. “While I am excited about the next chapter, the Red Sea Film Foundation will always hold a very special place in my heart.”
“Shivani has played an important role in the Foundation’s journey, working alongside a talented team of Saudi and international professionals to help shape its growth. We thank her for her contributions and wish her every success in the next chapter of her career” said Baltyour.
The sixth edition of the Red Sea Film Festival is scheduled to take place from December 3 to 12, 2026.
