Female Film Incubator HerStory Backs Three Films in Its Second Cycle

Three short films, all written and directed by women, have been selected to enter production in 2026 following the final pitching event of the second edition of the HerStory Films Incubator.

‘Thank You Mama for Trying’ by Noha El Ostaz, ‘Tastes Like Vanilla’ directed by Menna Ekram and written by Omnia Adel, and ‘Two Threads’ directed by Nathalie Tamer and written by Haguer Adel and Mariam Khaled were announced as the selected projects during the incubator’s closing pitching event, held last week.

HerStory Films, a film production company founded by publishing veteran and entrepreneur May Abdel Asim alongside actor Mona Zaki, is the first production company in the Arab world dedicated exclusively to supporting female filmmakers. “I am thrilled to contribute to the empowerment of women in the Arab film industry,” Zaki said. “We have an abundance of talent waiting to be discovered.” At the centre of HerStory’s mandate is the incubator itself, a three-year initiative aimed at developing and producing five short films. The programme is supported through funding from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Cairo, reflecting shared priorities around cultural diversity and gender equity in film.

The second edition of the incubator began with 20 projects undergoing script and film development, before narrowing the selection to eight finalists and ultimately three films selected for production. Throughout the programme, participants were supported by industry mentors including Karim El Dalil, Yomna Khattab, Tamer Ashry, Ahmed Abdallah, Aiten Amin and Mohamed Taymour, among others.

“Our vision for HerStory Films is to create a vibrant and inclusive film community that nurtures the talents of female filmmakers,” said Abdel Asim. “We are dedicated to providing opportunities, breaking down barriers, and promoting gender equality in the industry.”

Beyond the selected films, the incubator functions as a long-term support platform designed to strengthen professional pathways for emerging female filmmakers, combining development, mentorship and production opportunities to help translate new voices into completed work on screen.