Shivani Pandya Malhotra has stepped down as General Manager of Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival after building it from the ground up and playing a key role in making it one of the most prominent film festivals in the Arab world and a top film market in the MENA region over five editions.
The Red Sea Festival and Market, held in the city of Jeddah on the eastern coast of the Red Sea, was founded in 2019 and the first edition was held in 2020, two years after Saudi Arabia lifted a 35-year ban on commercial cinemas.
In its second year, the Red Sea Festival welcomed approximately 40,000 movie fans and more than 4,000 film professionals over 10 days in December 2022, with a jury hosted by Oliver Stone. For the 2023 edition, subtitled “Your Story, Your Festival,” Pandya Malhotra and his team have selected Baz Luhrmann as the jury’s president, and the lineup includes films such as Kauser Ben Hania’s “The Four Daughters,” one of 170 films supported by the Red Sea Fund, and Maiwenn’s historical drama “Joene du Barry,” co-starring Johnny Depp. Last year, Sean Baker chaired the star-studded Red Sea Festival, which saw stars such as Dakota Johnson, Uma Thurman, Ana de Armas, Queen Latifah, Vin Diesel and Michael Caine appear on the red carpet.
Director Pandya Malhotra said in a statement: “After seven incredible years and five incredible Red Sea International Film Festivals, 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 its inception and witness its growth into a globally respected institution,” she added. “I am deeply grateful to Chairman Jomana Al Rashid, CEO Faisal Baltiyor, our leadership, partners, filmmakers, colleagues and the broader film community whose passion and dedication have shaped this success. While I am excited about this next chapter, the Red Sea Film Foundation will always hold a special place in my heart,” continued Pandya Malhotra.
Last year’s Red Sea Festival was also the first to be held under the direction of Saudi film industry pioneer Faisal Baltuoglu. In May 2025, Baltuol was appointed CEO of the Red Sea Foundation, which oversees the festival, and its year-round operations, the Red Sea Institute.
Sources said Baltuor’s vision for the upcoming festival is believed to have clashed with Pandya Malhotra’s way of running it.
Baltiyor commented, “Shivani has played a key role in the Foundation’s journey, working with a talented team of Saudi and international experts to shape the Foundation’s growth. We thank her for her contributions and wish her every success in the next chapter of her career.”
Pandya Malhotra, who has more than 25 years of experience in the entertainment industry and previously ran the now-defunct Dubai Film Festival, recently ventured into filmmaking as executive producer of The Station, a drama set in Yemen by Yemeni-Scottish director Sara Ishak, which premiered to positive reviews at Cannes Critics Week in May.
