JEDDAH

British actor Benedict Cumberbatch was in the spotlight at Jeddah’s Red Sea International Film Festival on Tuesday afternoon, delighting a packed audience with an “In Conversation” session.

Fans crowded the auditorium at Culture Square in Al-Balad as the two-time Academy Award nominee recalled growing up with actor parents and discussed his career.

“My parents are both actors, wherever they go or what they do, I was there with them and I learned from them. My father gave me the push to follow my passion,” he said of Timothy Carlton and Wanda Ventham.

He later went into depth about his own career, telling anecdotes from the sets of some of his biggest successes including Marvel’s “Doctor Strange,” the lauded TV series “Sherlock,” “Star Trek into Darkness,” “The Power of the Dog” and “The Imitation Game.”

“It has been a great journey for me and I have enjoyed every minute of it,” he said. “I’m permanently looking for challenges and experiences outside of my own to engage my imagination and craft.”

Cumberbatch has twice been nominated for Academy Awards, the first for 2014’s “The Imitation Game” and the second for “The Power of the Dog” in 2021.

“It’s nice to be nominated, but for me, it’s just about the quality of the work, the value for me is that it brings me into close contact with my collaborators and with the people whose shoulders I’m standing on or have stood on,” he said of the industry recognition.

Cumberbatch has worked in theatre, television, film and radio. Asked if he missed treading the boards, he said: “Oh yes, that’s the real thing. It is where I started my career and theater was my turning point.”

The actor’s other forays into the world of theatre include starring in the UK’s Royal National Theatre’s “After the Dance” (2010) and “Frankenstein” (2011). In 2015, he played William Shakespeare’s Hamlet at the Barbican Theatre in London.

Cumberbatch also talked about his work as a producer, particularly as an executive producer on “We Live in Time” with Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield. He connected with its universal themes and humor, he said, adding that “financing and budget structure are very, very difficult to do in this climate.”

He also had words of praise for his “Sherlock” co-star Martin Freeman, who plays the pragmatic Dr. John Watson. The Emmy and BAFTA-winning Freeman is “a funny actor and also a technical artist,” he said. 

Cumberbatch left the stage to prolonged applause and cheers, with some audience members screaming: “We love you!”

JEDDAH: On the sixth day of the Red Sea International Film Festival, cinema legend Spike Lee shared insights on storytelling, collaboration, and his enduring love for filmmaking.

Known for his groundbreaking works including “Do the Right Thing,” “Malcolm X,” and “BlacKkKlansman,” the five-time Academy Award-winning filmmaker delved into his journey, inspiring aspiring creatives and cinephiles alike.

Lee reflected on his early challenges, emphasizing the importance of opportunity in the crowded industry. “From the very beginning, I wanted to give an opportunity for new talents,” he said.

“This is a very, very tough business. A lot of times, you can be very talented, but if you don’t get a break, you’re really stuck.”

Lee also spoke passionately about the collaborative nature of filmmaking.

“Filmmaking is not a solo act. It’s the collective coming together for one goal — to make films,” he said. “Some people want to be the hero and do it by themselves, but it doesn’t work like that.”

Teaching and creating films, Lee explained, requires dedication.

“Filmmaking is no joke. You have to be a devotee of cinema, like your life depends on it. You can’t cheat. If you’re not serious, you’re making it harder for yourself.”

Lee’s upcoming film is a reimagining of the Akira Kurosawa classic film “High and Low.” The film stars Denzel Washington and will be released in 2025 by A24 and Apple.

Whether directing narrative films or documentaries, Lee highlighted the universal importance of storytelling. “I don’t have to put on another hat. It’s telling the story — a different way to tell a story, but still telling a story,” he explained.

Music is an integral part of his creative process. “Music plays a very important part in my films. The composer’s sound, those sounds, is this element that is very important to how we use music,” he said.

The director has a long history of working with musicians and in addition to his films, TV series, and commercials, he has directed a number of music videos and shorts.

He has worked with artists including Michael Jackson, Prince, Public Enemy, Branford Marsalis, Bruce Hornsby, Miles Davis and Anita Baker.

Drawing from his 30 years in the film industry, Lee critiqued ineffective leadership on set. “Sometimes you see long days because the director doesn’t know what they’re doing. That’s when the crew turns against the director.”

The festival’s stellar lineup of speakers includes Brendan Fraser, Michael Mann, Jeremy Renner, and Benedict Cumberbatch.