ISLAMABAD: Pakistani film Ghost School has been officially selected for screening at Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival 2025.
Marking a significant milestone, this will be Pakistan’s first-ever participation in the Red Sea Film Festival—made possible through the efforts of Nausheen Waseem and the compelling direction of Seemab Gull. The event is taking place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from December 4 to 13.
The selection of Ghost School is being widely celebrated as an important achievement for Pakistani cinema, underscoring the industry’s growing visibility and recognition on the global stage.
Ghost School sheds light on how powerful systems fail society’s most vulnerable class. The film intertwines heartbreak with hope, offering a poignant vision of a better future for children.
The film follows Rabia, a courageous 10-year-old who sets out to uncover the truth behind her school’s abrupt closure.
As whispers of supernatural events spread through the community, her journey reveals a society caught between superstition and corruption.
Through Rabia’s quest, the film delves into themes of superstition, limited access to education, and the deep-rooted social challenges facing rural communities.
Before its selection for the Red Sea Festival, Ghost School had already attracted international attention with its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
At the Red Sea Festival, it has been featured in the “Families and Children” category and is scheduled to screen on December 11 at 3 PM at Jeddah’s Culture Square.
The Red Sea Film Foundation says it is entering a new phase of long-term, industry-shaping influence, supported by major investments in Saudi filmmaking talent and upcoming national productions.
Highlighting this transition, the foundation’s CEO, Faisal Baltyuor, told Arab News that the fifth edition represents “a significant shift for the foundation, moving it from a successful emerging event to a truly established, year-round industry incubator.”
Since 2021, the Red Sea Film Fund has backed a number of productions across the region.
“The Red Sea Fund has supported over 310 films since 2021 … the stories are out there, the desire is strong, and the skills base is growing,” Baltyuor said.
