In an exciting new collaboration, Netflix has partnered with the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC) to unveil the “Women in Film – Bring Your Story to Life” initiative. This groundbreaking program is designed to support and advance the careers of Arab women filmmakers by offering them unique training, mentorship, and financial backing. The initiative aims to foster professional growth among women from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, and Kuwait.
The Netflix program will select up to 25 women to benefit from its resources. Participants can apply either as established teams with a complete project or as individuals seeking roles such as cinematographer, editor, or other key positions. A jury will evaluate and choose five projects for development. In addition, a matchmaking process will assist incomplete teams in finding the necessary technical expertise. Each selected project will be allocated a budget of $25,000 for the creation of a short fiction film.
Rima Mismar, the Executive Director of AFAC, spoke with Arab News about the initiative’s comprehensive support system.
“The support we provide in the initial phase is deeply connected to the script itself. The jury will offer feedback and guidance on what each project needs, focusing particularly on scriptwriting training,” Mismar said.
As projects move forward, the emphasis will shift to the role of producers in assembling their teams, including directors, writers, producers, and cinematographers. Mismar highlighted that the program also includes extensive mentorship and consultancy throughout the production stages. This will cover various aspects such as cinematography, editing, and sound design, ensuring that every team receives the support they need.
Reflecting on the current state of Arab cinema, Mismar expressed a positive outlook, stating, “Arab cinema, in terms of creative expression, style, and voices, is in a good place today.” However, she also pointed out significant hurdles, particularly around funding and distribution. “The challenges filmmakers face today are primarily related to securing funds and distributing their films,” she noted.
Mismar underscored the necessity of rethinking traditional production models to facilitate more frequent filmmaking. “Given the economic conditions in the region, we need to explore ways to produce films on smaller budgets. If filmmakers aspire to create films more regularly, rather than once every decade, we must reconsider the tools and resources at their disposal,” she concluded.
This initiative marks a significant step forward in supporting women in the Arab film industry and could pave the way for a new wave of creativity and innovation in the region.
