Mohammed Al Turki on Venice film fest award: 'Saudis are continuing to make a difference'

The producer will be recognised for leading the Red Sea Film Foundation's philanthropic initiatives

Saudi film producer Mohammed Al Turki. Getty Images

Saudi film producer Mohammed Al Turki will be honoured at the Venice Film Festival next month.

The former chief executive and current advisor of the Red Sea Film Foundation, the body overseeing Jeddah's Red Sea International Film Festival, will be honoured with the Philanthropic Leadership Award by the Foundation for Aids Research (Amfar) as part of a gala event on September 1.

Speaking to The National, Al Turki states that the honour is a reflection of his life's mission to make an impact on the world stage, and to help break ground for Saudis in the arts and philanthropy spaces globally.

"I launched my film career in 2010 – almost 14 years ago. I always wanted to bridge East and West. To be the first Saudi individually honoured in Venice with any sort of award holds a special place to my heart, and I'm happy that we are continuing to break barriers and make a difference," he says.

Amfar's president Kevin Robert Frost told Variety the award is given in tribute to the Saudi film festival's patronage of the organisation over the years.

“Thanks in part to Mohammed Al Turki’s leadership, The Red Sea International Film Festival has been a loyal supporter of Amfar’s work for many years, and through their generosity and partnership, they have helped advance our lifesaving research," Frost said.

Al Turki stresses that this support will remain a personal priority for him moving forward.

He adds: "I will always continue the work that Amfar does in the fight against HIV and the fight against Aids, and I applaud the work that they've been doing.

"These events are not just about the glitz and glamour. These events are meaningful. They're making a difference and raising funds to finding a cure. It's apparent now more than ever that we need stand together with our counterparts and to find a solution to end this epidemic."

Also to be recognised as part of the event is actor Richard Gere, who will receive the Award for Inspiration for his humanitarian work.

Al Turki and Gere have a history of collaboration, with the former co-producing Arbitrage, which opened that year's Abu Dhabi Film Festival and starred the American actor.

The producer adds: "Being honoured with Richard Gere feels surreal, and can't wait to be in Venice to share this moment with him.

"I've worked with Richard on several films, and he has played a pivotal role in my film career. I launched my film production career in 2012 with Arbitrage and we have had a long-lasting friendship."

This is not the only time Saudi Arabia's film industry has been highlighted at the Venice International Film Festival.

As part of the 2022 event, the Red Sea International Film Festival and Vanity Fair celebrated the influential career of six Arab women filmmakers and actors in a gala event.

The recipients included three Saudi film personalities – director Haifa Al Mansour, actress and director Ahd Kamel and actress Sumaya Rida.

Last month the Venice Film Festival, which is taking place from August 28 to September 7, announced the films screening at the event.

While no films from Mena feature in the main competition category, regional titles will be seen in other competitive fields including Aicha by Tunisian filmmaker Mehdi Barsaoui and Seeking Haven for Mr Rambo by Egyptian director Khaled Mansour.