Announced in August 2023, the programme welcomed candidates from the UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Kuwait.
The Netflix-AFAC Creative Training Programme for emerging female talent in the creative filmmaking process has wrapped this week, marking a significant milestone for 37 women involved in the filmmaking industry. The programme culminated in a visit to Netflix’s production hub in Tres Cantos, where participants gleaned insights into global best practices from industry experts.
The journey began with three-day workshops held in Cairo, Dubai, and Jeddah in November, led by established female filmmakers from the Arab region. These workshops provided aspiring talents with invaluable guidance on scriptwriting and the creative process of filmmaking.
In the final leg of the programme, participants travelled to Madrid, where they engaged with talent working in the audiovisual ecosystem, delving into shared experiences and gaining deeper insights into cinema in Spain. The visit included enriching interactions with key stakeholders such as Casa Árabe, the Spanish Film Academy, and Spain’s Ministry of Digital Transformation and Public Function, among others.
During their time in Madrid, participants had the privilege of meeting with esteemed industry professionals, including producer Emma Lustres and showrunner Gema R. Neira, who shared valuable insights into the global filmmaking industry.
Maha Hani, one of the participating women from Saudi Arabia, said: “The programme was a great experience not only for the quality of information being taught, but also for meeting influential women from different areas in this industry and providing an interactive and fun experience. Seeing the drive and initiative by Netflix and AFAC to provide opportunities for great stories by talented women all over the world is truly inspiring.”
Rima Mismar, Executive Director of the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture – AFAC, added: “As we embark on our 17th year of operations, we continue our active commitment to break stereotypes and champion women’s voices across the Arab region, creating avenues for the production of bold works that spark societal change in the longer-term. In filmmaking more particularly, we are extremely pleased with this renewed partnership with Netflix, through which we can build on this commitment and instill technical capacities in young women talents of the region.”
Netflix’s commitment to knowledge transfer and talent development in the region has been unwavering. The company has been investing in content, financial grants, and upskilling initiatives to provide a platform for both new and established voices to thrive in the industry.
Netflix is a long-term partner to the creative community, focusing on talent development and skills building to support the industry and help grow the next generation of talent. In the region, it is investing heavily in building new pathways for underrepresented communities within the entertainment industry and working with industry partners to provide creators with the tools they need to tell the best version of their stories
Nuha El Tayeb, Content Director, Turkey, Middle East & Africa at Netflix, stated: “As a long-term partner to the creative community, we’re focusing on developing the skills of a new generation of talent primed to make a mark in the regional film and TV industry. Partnering with the right entities is an important part of this as we strive to achieve meaningful change, and we’re proud of the impactful work we’re delivering with long-standing partners like AFAC who have experience creating tangible opportunities for underrepresented voices and making the industry more inclusive and accessible.”
The ‘Women in Film’ programme, which welcomed candidates from the UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Kuwait, underscores Netflix’s dedication to amplifying women’s stories and fostering the next generation of talent. As part of its ‘Because She Created’ initiatives, Netflix continues to support Arab women filmmakers through various programmes aimed at building the talent pipeline and promoting creative equity.
