Red Sea Film Festival: Juliette Binoche Exchanged Contacts with Jury Head Sean Baker and Exclaimed ‘I Want to Collaborate With You!’

During the opening night of the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah, Juliette Binoche was celebrated as one of the evenings main honorees. In addition to receiving an award recognizing her contributions to cinema, the French actress was also honored in a heartfelt tribute by jury president Sean Baker.

On stage, Baker, the director behind last years acclaimed film Anora, shared that he not only admired Binoches work but had also kept a framed poster of her 1991 romantic drama Lovers on the Bridge on his wall.

Since that moment, Binoche and Baker have stayed in touch, with the actress confirming they have exchanged numbers. Speaking at the festivals Variety Lounge on Saturday, she described how she eagerly expressed her desire to collaborate with him, shouting, I want to work with you! Baker responded that he intends to shift his filmmaking style and explore action movies.

Although Baker received the Palme dOr for Anora in 2024, Binoche played a key role as jury head for this years Cannes selections. She expressed pride in several films now screening in Jeddah, including Sirat and The Mastermind, saying, We were really happy as a jury to find those films. We had a good year!

The top Cannes prize went to Jafar Panahis It Was Just an Accident, which will represent France at the next Academy Awards. Binoche also reflected on Panahis recent sentencing in absentia to one year in prison by the Iranian Revolutionary Court for alleged propaganda. She recalled the 2010 Cannes Film Festival when Panahi, then a jury member, could not attend due to imprisonment. Binoche recounted placing his name in front of the camera when receiving her Best Actress Palme for Certified Copy, a gesture she felt contributed to Panahis release three days later. She described awarding him the Cannes prize years later as so meaningful.

Author: Natalie Monroe