The seventh edition of the Red Sea Labs Feature Films Program, run by the Red Sea Film Foundation, has moved to the South Korean capital, Seoul, in partnership with Film Independent, bringing together filmmakers from Saudi Arabia, the Arab world, Asia and Africa.

The Seoul leg featured workshops and specialised sessions on developing the projects and sharing expertise with film industry professionals, to strengthen their creative and professional sides and get them ready for production and marketing. An "Inspire" series talk looked at how stories drawn from local settings and cultures can reach worldwide audiences without losing their authenticity and identity.

This edition includes 12 projects — three Saudi and nine international — that follow development tracks in screenwriting, directing and production, mentored by industry experts.

From Seoul the teams head to Los Angeles for the next stage, before presenting their projects at the Red Sea Souk during the next Red Sea International Film Festival. The programme aims to prepare them for international markets and connect them with producers, distributors and backers.