The Red Sea Film Foundation is strengthening its international profile, with 12 supported films now in contention for Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards.
Of the 12 titles, 11 are official submissions from their respective countries. Angh also qualifies for consideration under new Academy rules after winning the Platform Award at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
The selection highlights the Foundation's growing role in supporting films with international distribution and awards potential. The slate spans Algeria's Roqia, Chad's Soumsoum, the Night of the Stars, Egypt's The Stories, Morocco's Strawberries and Rwanda's Ben'Imana. Other supported productions represent Saudi Arabia, Georgia, Indonesia, Jordan, Singapore, Syria and India.
For filmmakers, producers, and distributors, it signals the growing popularity of films from different markets. This stresses the importance of the continued support for filmmaking in international forums.
This significant step comes on the heels of the Foundation's best performance at TIFF yet, as eight of the Foundation-supported films were screened during the 2026 festival.
According to the Foundation's Chief Executive Officer, Faisal Baltyuor, the accomplishment is a source of pride, as it shows the Foundation's dedication to supporting filmmakers and their films.
The list of nominations for this Academy Award will be announced on 15 December 2026, and the nominations will be finalised on 21 January 2027. It will be interesting to know which of the films that have been made will be able to compete for this coveted award.
