Exploring AFAC & Netflix’s 'Women in Film' Mentorship Programme

Amid the scarcity of opportunities in the Arab film industry, both on sets and in film schools, women remain underrepresented, and as a result, their stories often go untold. In a step toward addressing the underrepresentation of women in the film industry, Netflix has partnered with the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC) to launch a new mentorship programme, ‘Women in Film – Bring Your Story to Life’. This initiative aims to provide training and development opportunities to up to 25 emerging Arab women filmmakers across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, and Kuwait.

The programme is part of Netflix's Fund for Creative Equity. "This kind of intervention is a corrective action to address a longstanding inequality in major industries — including the film industry," Rima Mismar, Executive Director of AFAC, tells CairoScene.

The initiative specifically targets women who did not receive formal film education, providing them with a platform to develop their talents and amplify their voices amid a context where access to film programmes for women is just as difficult as being on set. 

“We are targeting women who did not receive a formal film education,” says Mismar. Through this partnership, participants will collaborate on a group project, working to produce short fiction films under the guidance of seasoned industry mentors. Each team is given a USD 25,000 budget to bring their stories to life, covering the entire filmmaking process from script consultation to post-production.

“The programme managed to create a safe space for them to share fears and experiences related to working and studying film — particularly around power dynamics that often govern relationships, especially with men,” Mismar adds.

"We are dedicated to ensuring that women are represented both on and off camera," Nuha Al Tayeb, Director of Content for the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey at Netflix tells CairoScene. After the matchmaking process and once teams are finalized, the writer, director, and producer of each of the five selected film projects will participate in an online working meeting with a script mentor. During this session, the mentor will provide feedback and suggest improvements to the treatment and script.

Once the scripts are fully developed, AFAC will assemble a team of mentors to guide the filmmakers through the production process. These mentors will work closely with the crews, offering support before and during filming through regular online check-ins with department heads to ensure the production stays on track.

Following the shoot, the heads of departments will gather in Saudi Arabia for a week of post-production work, focusing on editing and sound design. The completed films will then be showcased at a closing event in the UAE, attended by industry professionals, policymakers, and media.

The selected grantees will be announced on November 20th.