Lauded French actor Juliette Binoche, who is currently at the Red Sea Film Festival both as an honoree and to present her directorial debut “In-I in Motion,” praised Arab filmmakers Cherien Dabis (“All That’s Left of You”) and Shahad Ameen (“Hijra”) during a conversation event organized by Kering’s Women in Motion initiative. Binoche, who shared the panel with the directors, told Dabis and Ameen that, “in the Western world, we need to hear stories like yours.”
Speaking directly to Ameen following the Saudi director’s account of breaking into filmmaking during the rise of her country’s burgeoning film industry, the “Chocolat” actor said: “When a young woman from your country watches a film and wants to direct, it’s amazing. You’re so courageous. I think it’s remarkable.”
The panel, the first-ever “Kering | Women in Motion” event to take place at the Red Sea Film Festival, was preceded by a passionate speech by Kering’s chief brand officer Laurent Claquin. The French exec said being in Jeddah was “meaningful and inspiring,” particularly given 2025 marks ten years of the initiative that was first launched in Cannes back in 2025. “As we look for the next 10 years, our commitment remains unchanged: to stand with all those who dare to challenge boundaries and move forward. The Red Sea Film Festival in just a few editions has become far more than an event, it is a platform for creativity and bold expression, a place where artists from the region and all over the world bring their stories to life. We are really proud to be here this year.”
The talk revolved around the directors’ latest works, with Binoche recalling how her directorial debut started with advice from Robert Redford. The late U.S. actor-filmmaker watched the French actor’s stage show “In-I” in New York, and told her she must direct a film about its making. Redford’s wish came true 17 years later, with Binoche’s documentary on her creative process alongside dancer Akram Khan premiering at the San Sebastian Film Festival earlier this year.
Redford was also somewhat involved in Dabis’ lauded drama, given it premiered back in January at the director’s Sundance Film Festival. Talking about the film, the Palestinian-American director said she wanted to tell a story “that has not been told about what happened to Palestinians in 1948,” when the Palestine War led to the Nakba. The Arabic word for “the catastrophe” is used to refer to the mass displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in order to establish the State of Israel.
“The impact of displacement and occupation in different generations continues to this day,” added the director. “I wanted to really explore the human toll of all of these events that people have been reading about in the news for decades. Western media in particular has a way of dehumanizing Palestinians. For me, making this movie was a way of honoring Palestinians.”
Dabis said she feels there is “much more support for our Arab stories in Europe than the U.S.,” recalling how Arab filmmaking changed after 9/11. “As someone who was living in New York at that time, it felt like the Arab world was like, ‘Oh, we need to invest in our stories. We have to change the narrative and start making this a priority because our image is being shaped for us, and it’s not a good one.’”
“I’ve gotten to watch the Arab world blossom in this way,” she continued, praising events like the former Dubai Film Festival, the work of the Doha Film Institute, and now the initiatives taking place at Red Sea. “It’s been really exciting to see.”
Ameen felt in a full-circle moment at the panel, stating she was inspired to get into filmmaking as a young woman thanks to Dabis’ trailblazing work. “I saw ‘Amreeka’ in film school, and I bought it immediately,” the Saudi filmmaker told her now peer on stage. “I couldn’t wait because there were not enough films telling our stories. I saw your film and kept thinking: What can I do in the future?”
The Saudi filmmaker, whose “Hijra” premiered at the Venice Film Festival, appeared thrilled about premiering her film back home. “Saudi Arabia is the most exciting place on the planet to make films right now,” she said. “You can do whatever you want. There’s a place for every voice. I dislike it when Saudi filmmakers try to copy American films. Be yourself, be weird, be odd, and someone will recognize [it]. Having the opportunity to tell our stories is an incredible privilege.”
To that, Binoche enthusiastically said: “I think it’s wonderful. Go for it, baby! We’re waiting!”
