Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival announced on Friday that Shivani Pandya Malhotra has stepped down as managing director after helping establish and expand the event into one of the Arab world’s most prominent film festivals and the leading film market in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Shivani Pandya Malhotra played a central role in developing the festival from its inception. The event, based in the Saudi city of Jeddah on the eastern shore of the Red Sea, was established in 2019 and held its first edition in 2020, two years after Saudi Arabia lifted its 35-year ban on commercial cinemas.
During her tenure, the festival grew rapidly in international stature. The 2022 edition attracted nearly 40,000 filmgoers and more than 4,000 film professionals over 10 days and featured a jury led by filmmaker Oliver Stone.
In 2023, the festival secured director Baz Luhrmann as jury president and showcased films including ‘Four Daughters’ by Kaouther Ben Hania and ‘Jeanne du Barry’ by Maïwenn, starring Johnny Depp.
The most recent edition was chaired by filmmaker Sean Baker and featured a red-carpet line-up that included Dakota Johnson, Uma Thurman, Ana de Armas, Queen Latifah, Vin Diesel and Michael Caine.
In a statement, Pandya Malhotra said, “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.”
“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,” she added.
Pandya Malhotra thanked the festival’s leadership, partners, filmmakers, colleagues and the wider film community for their support.
“I am deeply grateful to our Chairwoman Jomana Al Rashid, CEO Faisal Baltyour, our leadership, partners, filmmakers, colleagues, and the wider film community whose passion and commitment have helped shape this success,” she said.
“While I am excited about the next chapter, the Red Sea Film Foundation will always hold a very special place in my heart.”
The latest edition of the festival was the first held under the leadership of Faisal Baltyuor, a pioneer of the Saudi film industry who was appointed chief executive of the Red Sea Foundation in May 2025. The foundation oversees the festival, the Red Sea Fund and the year-round Red Sea Labs programme.
According to sources, differences emerged between Baltyuor’s vision for the festival’s future and Pandya Malhotra’s approach to management.
Baltyuor acknowledged her contribution to the organisation’s development.
“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,” he said.
“We thank her for her contributions and wish her every success in the next chapter of her career.”
Before joining the Red Sea Film Festival, Pandya Malhotra managed the Dubai Film Festival. She has more than 25 years of experience in the entertainment industry and recently expanded into film production as executive producer of Yemeni-Scottish director Sara Ishaq’s drama ‘The Station’, which premiered in Cannes Critics’ Week in May.
