The initiative will select 45 women hailing from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, and Egypt to participate.
Netflix, in partnership with the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC), has launched a training programme aimed at nurturing emerging female talent in the field of filmmaking. This programme, titled ‘Women in Film: Introduction to the Creative Process,’ seeks to acquaint participants with the intricacies of creative filmmaking and the diverse roles that women can play behind the camera.
Geared towards female filmmakers who are recent graduates in the field and who are based in Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE, this initiative will engage a select group of 45 women. These participants will undergo a series of workshops designed to provide insights into the contemporary filmmaking industry. The programme will delve into various aspects of the craft, including scriptwriting and the creative journey of filmmaking. Esteemed female filmmakers from the Arab region will guide these aspiring talents, aiming to cultivate a robust pipeline of skilled professionals and encourage storytelling as a viable career path for the upcoming generation of Arab women.
Commencing in November, the programme will kick off with three days of workshops held in Cairo, Dubai, and Jeddah. As an added benefit, all participants will also be offered an opportunity to visit Netflix’s production hub in Europe in the coming year.
Speaking about the programme, Nuha el Tayeb, Director, Content Director of Middle East, Africa and Turkey at Netflix, said: “At Netflix, we are passionate about amplifying women’s voices behind the camera. That includes a commitment to authentic storytelling which is intrinsically linked to developing the region’s talent pipeline. AFAC has been a long-standing partner and has done some incredible work for underrepresented voices. Through this partnership, we are discovering a wealth of promising Arab talent and working to ensure that women are represented both on and off camera.”
The Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC), founded in 2007 by Arab cultural activists, operates as an independent foundation that supports artists, writers, researchers, and organisations across the Arab region.
Rima Mismar, Executive Director at AFAC, added: “Throughout our 16 years in operation, we have been committed to supporting bold creative voices of women and men artists, who are trying to push boundaries and challenge status-quos. In film specifically, 44% of supported films to date are by women filmmakers. Through this renewed partnership with Netflix, we build on that commitment, extending our technical support to emerging women talents and allowing for a deeper understanding of the inequities and inequalities that women are subjected to in the film industry.”
This initiative targets women between the ages of 21 and 27 residing in the UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Kuwait. Applications for the programme will be accessible on the AFAC website starting from August 17, with the submission deadline set for September 8. An external panel of judges will evaluate the applications, and selected candidates will be informed by October 17.
The ‘Women in Film: Introduction to the Creative Process’ programme is a part of Netflix’s Fund for Creative Equity, which is established to foster new opportunities for underrepresented communities within the realm of entertainment. In the previous year, Netflix partnered with AFAC to extend a one-time grant of $250,000 aimed at supporting women producers and directors within the Arab world.
