Jeddah Culture Square Courtesy of RSIFF Share on Facebook Share on X Google Preferred Share to Flipboard Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Send an Email Print the Article Post a Comment Light rain typically falls in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia just a handful of times each year, with annual rainfall averaging under two inches. But the clouds opened up above the historic port city on Tuesday and unleashed a deluge, sending the country's flagship Red Sea International Film Festival into emergency shutdown mode. Organizers advised the event's global guests to shelter in place - at their hotels, screening venues or the event's bustling Souk trade-show floor - as heavy rains in the city can often result in flooding and road closures lasting hours. Related Stories News British Content Creator Max Balegde Signs With UTA (Exclusive) Movies How Can Movie Theaters Fill More Seats Again? A Bain Report Shares Suggestions Oscar-nominated director Darren Aronofsky was just taking the stage in a cinema in Jeddah's Cultural Square for a keynote "In Conversation" presentation when thunder started booming over the city. The filmmaker's talk would become the festival's final public event of the day, as screenings and other activities were scrapped in response to government flood advisories. An evening appearance and keynote chat with actor Riz Ahmed was among the many events put on hold. (Read the festival's full statement to guests below.) The U.S. consulate issued its own advisory Tuesday afternoon, officially canceling a glitzy Red Sea Film Festival gala that was scheduled to be held on the government's grounds, drawing a mix of international film and industry figures. Founded in 2019 and now in its fifth edition, the Red Sea International Film Festival has rapidly grown into one of the Middle East's most influential cinema events, with a remit to champion filmmakers and stories from the Arab world, Africa and Asia while positioning Saudi Arabia as an emerging hub for global film culture. Each year, the festival draws a substantial cadre of Hollywood and international talent to Jeddah to walk its waterfront red carpet, host masterclasses and take part in industry talks. This year's edition has already welcomed a wide mix of star names, including Aronofsky, Ahmed, Michael Caine, Adrien Brody, Vin Diesel, Jessica Alba, Sean Baker, Nicholas Hoult, Ana de Armas, Kirsten Dunst and Uma Thurman, among others. The Red Sea Film Festival's full statement follows: "Due to the unstable weather and heavy rainfall in Jeddah today, Tuesday, December 9, Culture Square and the Red Sea Souk will be closed for the remainder of the day to ensure everyone's safety. All screenings, activities and programs today have been canceled. Please stay tuned to our official channels and the festival app for any further updates. Note: Refunds for canceled screenings will be provided." THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up international How Can Movie Theaters Fill More Seats Again? A Bain Report Shares Suggestions Saudi Arabia Nicholas Hoult Talks 'Skins,' Working George Miller and James Gunn and His Fears of Failure as a Child Actor Saudi Arabia Red Sea Film Foundation CEO Faisal Baltyuor On Building an Entertainment Ecosystem in Saudi Arabia park chan-wook Park Chan-wook on 'No Other Choice' Snagging 3 Golden Globe Nominations, State of Korean Film Industry Leonardo DiCaprio Leonardo DiCaprio Says AI Can't Be Art Because "There's No Humanity to It" Zootopia 2 'Awards Chatter' Pod: Ed Sheeran on Oscar-Contending 'F1' Song "Drive," Greatest Hits, "Sibling" Taylor Swift and Posthumous Album Plans international How Can Movie Theaters Fill More Seats Again? A Bain Report Shares Suggestions Saudi Arabia Nicholas Hoult Talks 'Skins,' Working George Miller and James Gunn and His Fears of Failure as a Child Actor Saudi Arabia Red Sea Film Foundation CEO Faisal Baltyuor On Building an Entertainment Ecosystem in Saudi Arabia park chan-wook Park Chan-wook on 'No Other Choice' Snagging 3 Golden Globe Nominations, State of Korean Film Industry Leonardo DiCaprio Leonardo DiCaprio Says AI Can't Be Art Because "There's No Humanity to It" Zootopia 2 'Awards Chatter' Pod: Ed Sheeran on Oscar-Contending 'F1' Song "Drive," Greatest Hits, "Sibling" Taylor Swift and Posthumous Album Plans