The first international film festival in Saudi Arabia, Red Sea Film Foundation, returns to Cannes for its annual “Women in Cinema” gala, honouring trailblazing women filmmakers, actors, and executives from the Arab world, Africa, and Asia.

This year, the event spotlights six honorees for their contributions, including Nigerian actress-producer Genevieve Nnaji, Moroccan filmmaker Laïla Marrakchi, Indian actress-singer Tara Sutaria, Rwandan filmmaker Marie-Clementine Dusabejambo, Indonesian filmmaker Kamila Andani, and Saudi actress-writer Aixa Kay.

Genevieve Nnaji, who is set to return to TV in the BBC series Wahala, was honoured as one of the leading figures in African cinema. An icon in Nollywood, the actress is acclaimed for pioneering the industry’s global expansion, alongside a career defined by critical acclaim, commercial success, and cultural impact.

Her directorial debut, Lionheart (2019), became the first Nigerian film acquired by Netflix and was selected as Nigeria’s first-ever submission to the Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category. With a decades-long career, Nnaji’s influence has spanned film, culture, and industry development to become one of the most recognised and respected voices shaping the future of Nollywood today.

Laïla Marrakchi continues her long-standing Cannes appearance with the premiere of her new film, Strawberries. A film that centres on women working abroad who find themselves confronted with harsh labour conditions and exploitation.

The Moroccan filmmaker has maintained her long-standing presence at Cannes since her debut feature, Marock (2005), was showcased in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival. She also directed two episodes of Damien Chazelle’s The Eddy (2020) for Netflix, amongst other French productions.

Rwandan filmmaker Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo also joins the lineup of African women in the spotlight at Cannes 2026 with her debut feature Ben’Imana, a drama set in post-genocide Rwanda, which has been officially selected to screen in Cannes 2026 – Un Certain Regard.

Dusabejambo’s journey as a filmmaker began in 2008, when she joined a group of young filmmakers in her neighbourhood in Almond Tree Films. After which she shot her first short film, LYIZA, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2011 and won a Bronze Tanit at the Carthage Film Festival in 2012. Her short films have been presented and awarded at several festivals, including the Carthage Film Festival, where she won the Tanit de Bronze in 2012 and 2018.

This year’s “Women in Cinema” spotlight marks the first year with three honorees spotlighted from Africa.