Shivani Pandya Malhotra has stepped down as general manager of the Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia after helping build the event from the ground up and guiding it through five editions. Over seven years with the Red Sea Film Foundation, she played a central role in turning the festival in Jeddah into one of the Arab world’s leading film events and the region’s top movie market in the MENA area.
The Red Sea festival and market was founded in 2019 and launched its first edition in 2020, following Saudi Arabia’s decision to lift its 35-year ban on commercial cinemas. Since then, the festival has grown rapidly in scale and visibility, attracting major international talent, industry professionals, and a growing slate of supported films. In its second year, the event drew nearly 40,000 filmgoers and more than 4,000 film professionals over 10 days in December 2022, with Oliver Stone serving as jury host.
Under Pandya Malhotra’s leadership, the festival continued to expand its global profile. The 2023 edition, themed “Your Story, Your Festival,” featured Baz Luhrmann as jury president and included titles such as Kaouther Ben Hania’s Four Daughters and Maïwenn’s Jeanne du Barry, co-starring Johnny Depp. Those films were among the projects backed by the Red Sea Fund, which has supported dozens of productions from the region and beyond. Last year’s edition was chaired by Sean Baker and opened with a high-profile red carpet that included Dakota Johnson, Uma Thurman, Ana de Armas, Queen Latifah, Vin Diesel, and Michael Caine.
In a statement, Pandya Malhotra said she was leaving with “immense pride” in what had been built over seven years and five editions. She said it had been a privilege to witness the Foundation grow into a globally respected institution and thanked chairwoman Jomana Al Rashid, CEO Faisal Baltyuor, colleagues, partners, filmmakers, and the wider film community for their support. She added that although she is excited for her next chapter, the Red Sea Film Foundation will always hold a special place in her heart.
Baltyuor, who became CEO of the Red Sea Foundation in May 2025, praised her contribution and said she had helped shape the institution’s growth alongside Saudi and international professionals. Sources said his vision for the festival may have differed from Pandya Malhotra’s approach, contributing to the split.
Pandya Malhotra brings more than 25 years of entertainment industry experience. Before joining Red Sea, she managed the Dubai Film Festival. She has also recently moved into film production, serving as executive producer on Yemen-set drama The Station, by Yemeni-Scottish director Sara Ishaq, which premiered to positive notice in Cannes Critics’ Week in May.
