DUBAI: Celebrated Saudi-born actress and writer Aixa Kay has said she feels very grateful after being honored at the Women in Cinema Gala, hosted by the Red Sea Film Foundation alongside the ongoing Cannes Film Festival.
“Huge thanks to the Red Sea Film Foundation for this beautiful evening, the warm hospitality and for celebrating and empowering women in cinema on such a special night. Truly grateful for the recognition and this unforgettable experience at Cannes,” she wrote on Instagram.
Kay also took to social media to post photos of her look on the night, when she wore a pastel blue gown from Saudi designer Eman Alajlan, accessorized with jewels from Lustro.
“A little bit of sky, a little bit of cinema,” read the caption.
Kay’s work spans productions across Canada and Saudi Arabia, including “Saify,” which premiered at the Red Sea International Film Festival, and “Norah,” which had its European premiere at Cannes.
She has held leading and co-starring roles in series including “Almarsa” and “Shari Al-Asha,” both of which ranked in the top 10 on streaming platform Shahid across multiple countries.
The Women in Cinema gala, held at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cap d’Antibes, brought together actors, filmmakers and industry executives from across the Arab world, Africa and Asia for one of the festival’s most high-profile celebrations of female talent.
Five other women were also recognized for their contributions to cinema and storytelling — Moroccan filmmaker Laila Marrakchi, Nigerian producer Genevieve Nnaji, Indian actor Tara Sutaria, Rwandan filmmaker Marie-Clementine Dusabejambo and Indonesian producer Kamila Andini.
In attendance were Red Sea Film Foundation chairwoman Jomana Alrashid, CEO Faisal Baltyuor, US actress Demi Moore, Tunisian star Dhafer L’abidine, German actress Diane Kruger, Saudi actress Lama Al-Kinani, Egyptian producer Mohamed Hefzy, Portuguese model and actress Sara Sampaio, Egyptian-American star Rami Malek and US actress Michelle Rodriguez.
The Women in Cinema initiative was launched by the Red Sea Film Foundation to champion emerging and established female creatives through mentorship, funding and international exposure. Organizers said the gala continued to serve as a platform for fostering cross-cultural collaboration and highlighting stories from underrepresented regions.
