The Red Sea Intl. Film Festival has announced the first creative talents who will be speaking at the In Conversation series at this year’s festival. These include British Egyptian actor Amir El Masry, the star of the festival’s opening film “Giant,” and the Tunisian director of Academy Award-nominated “Four Daughters,” Kaouther Ben Hania, whose film “The Voice of Hind Rajab” will be presented as a special screening this year. They are joined by Saudi actor Yaqoub Alfarhan, known for “Norah” and “Algaid,” who will present his film “A Matter of Life and Death”; and Egyptian star Lebleba, who will present her most recent film, “Wedding Rehearsal.” The In Conversation series sees “global filmmakers and actors sharing their stories and revealing the successes and challenges they’ve had during their careers,” the festival said. El-Masry was born in Cairo and raised in London. He gained early recognition in Egypt before attending the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and achieving breakout success in the 2016 mini-series “The Night Manager.” He is known for his roles in projects such as “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” and “Limbo,” for which he won a BAFTA Award. He will also be at Red Sea to present his other recent film “The Stories,” which is in competition at the festival. Hania Kaouther studied cinema in Tunisia and Paris (FEMIS and La Sorbonne). She has directed several short films, feature films and documentaries, including “The Man Who Sold His Skin,” “Beauty and the Dogs,” “Zaineb Hates the Snow” and “The Challat of Tunis.” Her films have been featured at prestigious international festivals such as Cannes, Venice, Locarno, and the Academy Awards, including her acclaimed work “Four Daughters” which was supported by the Red Sea Foundation. Alfarhan began his artistic career in theater. He is known for several notable stage productions, including “Quick Meal,” “Secret of Life,” “The Lucky One” and “Second Symphony.” His television work features appearances in popular series such as “Between You and Me,” “Women’s Play Is a Man” and “Girls’ Extension.” Lebleba began her career as a child prodigy in Egyptian cinema in the mid-1950s. Discovered by film director Niazi Mustafa for her impersonation skills at age five, she became known as “Lebleba,” meaning “quick and intelligent.” She has appeared in several films and TV series, under the most important Egyptian filmmakers such as Youssef Chahine and Atef El Tayebe, earning numerous awards, including her dramatic role in the 1995 film “Laila Sakhina.”.
https://variety.com/2025/film/global/amir-el-masry-kaouther-ben-hania-red-sea-1236586757/
