Will Smith and Johnny Depp Open the 2023 Red Sea Film Festival – The Hollywood Reporter
Will Smith and Johnny Depp brought some firepower to the opening night of the third edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia.
Smith was surrounded by selfie hunters as he entered the massive, gorgeous Ritz-Carlton hotel in Jeddah on Thursday evening, where he posed for as many people as possible (Depp chose to arrive later with less fanfare).
Baz Luhrmann, who chairs the festival’s jury, also caused a stir on the red carpet, while other notable guests included Sharon Stone, who made her second appearance at the festival after attending in 2022; Diane Kruger; Sofia Vergara; Bollywood star Ranveer Singh; Ed Westwick; And many local Saudi names.
Iraqi director Yasser Al-Yasiri HoganA romantic fantasy film about jinn set in the modern city of Jeddah opened the festival, becoming the first local Saudi film to have the honor of raising the curtain.
Hogan Adapted from the best-selling young adult fantasy novel by Ibrahim Abbas. Combining Arabic folklore with modern themes, the film follows a kind-hearted genie, played by Baraa Alem, who goes on an epic journey to reclaim his birthright. Along the way, he meets a young medical student, Sawsan (Nour Al-Khadra), and develops a romantic relationship with her. He must also fight ancient evils “to maintain the harmonious balance between his world and ours,” according to the plot description.
Singh, who appeared earlier in the day at the sold-out “In Conversation” concert as part of the festival, Kruger and Saudi actor and writer Abdullah Al-Sadhan were honored at the opening ceremony. The Red Sea Honorary Award is given to “prominent cinematic figures and icons who contributed to shaping the history of cinema as we know it today and immortalized it in the hearts of the masses.”
Smith and Luhrmann are scheduled to participate in “In Conversation” events later in the festival.