Five Short Films from Netflix & AFAC’s Women in Film Program Screened at the Red Sea International Film Festival
Netflix and the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC) celebrated the screening of the Women in Film: Bring Your Story to Life program’s films at the Red Sea International Film Festivals. The films were screened as part of The Red Sea: New Vision strand, dedicated to films that stand out for their fresh cinematic vision and compelling exploration of unique themes.
The Women in Film program, launched through a partnership between AFAC and Netflix, supported 20 emerging women filmmakers from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, and Kuwait. Over a five-month period, participants received hands-on mentorship in writing, directing, producing, cinematography, and editing while working in teams to develop and produce their short films with dedicated $25,000 production grants.
“Supporting women to tell their stories, with confidence in their own artistic vision, is essential to building a more dynamic and representative film ecosystem in the Arab world. Through this partnership with Netflix, we were able to provide emerging filmmakers with the mentorship, resources, and freedom of expression that lie at the heart of AFAC’s mission.
The screening of their films at the Red Sea International Film Festival is a testament to what happens when independent voices are nurtured and given room to flourish”, stated Rima Mismar, AFAC’s Executive Director.
Throughout the program, participants worked closely with industry mentors through workshops and a structured production process that included post-production work completed in Saudi Arabia. The Red Sea International Film Festival amplified this effort by offering a platform for the filmmakers to present their work and take an important step in their careers.
Pelin Mavili, Director of Global Affairs at Netflix for Middle
East, North Africa and Türkiye, added: “The Netflix Fund for Creative Equity, reinforces our commitment to empowering emerging talent and amplifying new voices across the region. This initiative provides rising filmmakers the platform and support to bring their stories to life, and seeing their films included at the Red Sea International Film Festival makes us proud.
The positive reflections from the industry has reinforced the importance of nurturing the next generation of storytellers. Our collaboration with AFAC continues to open pathways for fresh voices and a more inclusive creative landscape in Saudi Arabia and across the Arab world.”
The selected five short films screened from the ‘Women in Film’ program are Jareesh Salam, Somewhere Else, Of Burning Memories & Wounds, No Land in Sight, and Cleanse the Streets. Each film brought forward authentic storytelling and explored distinctive themes. The screening in the festival offered the aspiring filmmakers a valuable opportunity to present their work to industry professionals and connect directly with producers, editors, and key decision-makers.
