Jeddah, November 2025

The team behind the Saudi documentary Seven Summits announced the film’s official selection for the fifth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival, which will run from December 4 to 13 in Jeddah’s Al-Balad district. The film is scheduled to have its premiere with two screenings: December 5 at Culture Square – Cinema 4 and December 7 at Cinema 5.

Seven Summits traces the extraordinary expedition of Saudi entrepreneur and adventurer Dr. Badr Al Shibani, who completed the Seven Summits Challenge by trekking and climbing the highest peak on every continent. His story embodies the discipline, determination, and resolve that Saudi Vision seeks to anchor across the nation.

This year, the documentary is featured among five titles selected for the “New Saudi Cinema – Feature Films” program, bringing forward the work of a new generation of Saudi documentary filmmakers.

Directed by Egyptian filmmaker Amir El-Shenawy, the project brings the work of one of the region’s most accomplished documentary voices to the screen. El-Shenawy holds a master’s degree in Screen Documentary from Goldsmiths, University of London, and his debut feature Kilo 64 received the First Film Award at the Egyptian National Film Festival.

The film is co-produced by Madlja Media Production—a Saudi company specializing in Arabic nature and adventure-focused storytelling and an active contributor to the growth of the national film industry—together with producer and entrepreneur Roaa Al-Madani. Al-Madani has been instrumental in shaping the current landscape of Saudi cinema. Her productions have enhanced the international profile of Saudi filmmaking, garnering recognition for her contributions and leadership.

As its name suggests, the documentary follows Al Shibani’s ascent of the world’s seven summits: Kilimanjaro, Elbrus, Vinson, Aconcagua, Everest, Denali, and Kosciuszko, capturing both the physical rigor of the expeditions and the internal journey that unfolded alongside them.

Seven Summits introduces a contemporary approach to Saudi documentary cinema, blending vivid visual storytelling with authentic human experiences, reflecting the remarkable progress of local content and production standards. The movie moves beyond the demands of the climbs themselves, exploring moments of leaving routine behind and capturing both the vulnerability and resilience—pushing beyond comfort, confronting mental and physical limits, and ultimately reaching the summit both literally and figuratively.

Reflecting on the film, Dr. Al Shibani said, “Seven Summits recounts my personal experience with challenge and discipline. It is an honest attempt to show what a person discovers when they step outside their comfort zone. The film documents the journey and the moral lessons young people can draw from it as they shape their personal and professional lives.”

He added, “Our participation in the Red Sea Film Festival is an important opportunity to advance Saudi storytelling and content rooted in real experiences, while contributing to building national models that champion the goals of Vision 2030, particularly in quality of life and youth empowerment. I hope the film offers meaningful insight and sparks a conversation about challenge, decision-making, and responsibility.”

Dr. Badr Al Shibani is a Saudi entrepreneur and adventurer whose expeditions include crossing the Empty Quarter and tracing the route of the Prophet Muhammad’s Hijra on foot. An MBA holder and the founder and CEO of Kai Holding Group, Al Shibani has been acknowledged by Forbes as one of the Kingdom’s most creative entrepreneurs.

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Saudi Documentary “Seven Summits” Set to Premiere at the 2025 Red Sea International Film Festival