Red Sea Festival Spotlights Bold Films On ISIS Terrorism And Trauma

The fourth Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah featured daring films tackling the atrocities of ISIS in the Middle East. These cinematic works challenge the silence often maintained by governments in the region.

Tunisian filmmaker Lotfi Achour won Best Director ($10,000) and the Golden Yusr for Best Film ($100,000) for his gripping film Red Path. Spike Lee, the festival jury president, called it “a remarkable film addressing a critical issue of our time.” Achour revealed the story was inspired by personal tragedy—ISIS militants killed both his brothers, sharing a video of his elder brother’s execution online.

Red Path follows Ashraf, a 10-year-old shepherd from northern Tunisia. He lives happily with his cousin Nazir until tragedy strikes. While bathing in a river, the boys are captured by ISIS fighters. The militants test their weapons on a sheep and then behead Nazir in front of Ashraf. They force Ashraf to deliver his cousin’s severed head to their family.

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The film explores Ashraf’s deep trauma, showing his visions of Nazir’s ghost and his emotional struggle. His father eventually sends him to a boarding school in the city to shield him from further harm. The final scene, where Nazir’s fiancée chases after Ashraf’s departing car, poignantly reflects their shared grief.

Another standout was Iraq’s Songs of Adam by Uday Rashid, which won Best Screenplay ($10,000). Set in 1946, it tells the story of Adam, a 10-year-old boy who experiences a spiritual moment at his grandfather’s burial. Declaring he will never grow up, Adam’s age mysteriously halts. Villagers isolate him, believing he is cursed.

The film blends Adam’s mystical journey with Iraq’s turbulent history, exploring themes of resilience amidst conflict.

Both films offer bold narratives that confront the impact of terrorism and its lasting scars on individuals and communities