Mohammed Al Turki

Mohammed Al Turki accepts amfAR’s Philanthropic Leadership Award. (Photo: Ryan Emberley)

Businessman and philanthropist Mohammed Al Turki is a globally renowned award-winning film producer, known for acclaimed Hollywood films such as Arbitrage starring Richard Gere, 99 Homes starring Andrew Garfield, and most recently Guy Ritchie’s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.

Joining Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Foundation in 2020, Mohammed spearheaded The Red Sea International Film Festival’s expansion and established the Foundation as a launch pad for up-and-coming artists from Saudi Arabia and other parts of the Arab world, Africa, and the Global South.

Under his leadership, the first three editions of the film festival drew over 35,000 visitors, securing its status as a world-class event on the international film calendar. The festival was the Red Sea Film Foundation’s representative at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in 2023, with nine Red Sea-backed films in the official selection including opening night film Jeanne du Barry.

In 2021, Al Turki launched the Red Sea Film Festival’s “Women in Cinema,” an initiative to shed light on inspiring women in front of and behind the camera and partnered up with Vanity Fair Europe to host the celebratory galas in Cannes, Venice, and Jeddah. In 2023, the Festival supported over 33 female directors.

Mohammed was named GQ Middle East 2022 Man of the Year for his contribution to cinema. Since 2010, he has been a dedicated supporter of amfAR.