HerStory Films Launches First Female-Focused Film Incubator in Bahrain

HerStory Films, an Egypt-based film production company, has launched Bahrain’s first film incubator dedicated to championing female directors. The new incubator was created in collaboration with the Bahrain Ministry of Information and the Bahrain Film Festival to provide women directors with the resources needed to develop their short films on a larger platform.

At the centre of the initiative are the co-founders, publishing entrepreneur May Abdel Asim and renowned actress Mona Zaki. Asim’s experience in breaking down societal taboos from her leadership and creation of What Women Want magazine along with Zaki’s accomplishments in the entertainment industry are a mix of media expertise and artistic storytelling, offering a well-rounded landscape for directors looking for mentorship.

“We hope to change the narrative for women through producing female filmmakers across the region, and allow them to claim their own narrative and tell their own story,” Asim tells CairoScene.

Following a successful debut incubator program in Egypt - where they developed 20 short films and are now preparing to produce three with support from the Kingdom of the Netherlands - HerStory’s next chapter in Bahrain shows the regional need for champions of female-focused talent through resources, mentorship and advocacy. At the centre point of the incubator will be the built-in community to uplift these new voices.

“We have an abundance of talent waiting to be discovered,” Mona Zaki says. “I am confident that through HerStory Films, we will bring these diverse stories to the world.”

Applications for the program will be announced soon by the Bahrain Film Festival.