Emirati film director Nayla Al Khaja’s ‘Three’ to premiere at Red Sea Film Festival

Emirati film director/producer, Nayla Al Khaja’s debut feature ‘THREE’ will be making its much anticipated world premiere at the Red Sea Film Festival 2023 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The festival kicks off on November 30 and runs until the December 9, 2023. For this edition, ‘THREE’ is the sole feature film directed by an Emirati female director at the festival.

The psychological drama, directed and produced by Nayla Al Khaja and co-written by Ben Williams, features British actor Jefferson Hall, most notably known for his roles in Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster ‘Oppenheimer’ and HBO’s critically acclaimed series, ‘House of the Dragon.’

The talented cast also includes Faten Ahmed, Noura Alabed, UAE’s well-known veteran actor Maree Al Halyan, Mohannad Bin Huthail, and introduces Emirati actor Saud Alzarooni.

‘THREE’ is about a mother’s unwavering love and the extraordinary journey she embarks on to rescue her son.

The independent feature was shot in both Thailand and the UAE over a period of 24 days. The production was led by Producer Sultan Saeed Al Darmaki, Daniel Zirilli, Jean-Charles Levy, and Nayla Al Khaja. Serving as Executive Producers are Muna Easa Al Gurg, Jefferson Hall, Siddharth Thakker, and Rasik Thakker.

Al Khaja mentioned: “I am honored to have Emirates Airline supporting my debut feature film. This extraordinary step not only serves as a resounding endorsement of my artistic endeavor but demonstrates Emirates’ unwavering commitment to supporting Emirati talent and amplifying the voices of female storytellers. With their support, we embrace the collective spirit of creativity that unites a remarkable ensemble of 250 gifted artists who came together to achieve this vision.”

She also commented: “I am delighted to share that the performances by Jefferson Hall and Saud Alzarooni beautifully capture the stark cultural differences while also emphasizing our shared human needs: healing, connection, and love.”

Nayla Al Khaja’s first feature film ‘THREE’ promises to deliver an enthralling cinematic experience. Additionally, the filmmaker is already working on her ambitious next project, ‘BAAB’.

The score for BAAB will be composed by the two-time Oscar winner, composer A. R. Rahman (known for his work on ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ and ‘127 Hours.’). The shooting for ‘BAAB’ is scheduled to commence in 2024 in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.

Nayla currently has two running titles on Netflix worldwide – ‘The Shadow’ and ‘Animal.’