Netflix, AFAC Launch Women in Film Training Program

Netflix has partnered with Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC) to launch the third edition of its Women in Film program, aimed at supporting emerging women filmmakers across the Arab film industry. The initiative will provide professional training and mentorship opportunities to 35 participants from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, and Kuwait.

Women in Film III: Training through Practice is to build the regional film industry by strengthening the representation of women in both technical and creative positions. The new release includes two specialised tracks to help filmmakers at various stages of production and story development.

One of the tracks is geared towards writers, directors, and producers, and allows them to work on film projects with the help of experienced mentors, developing and packaging their ideas. The second track is technical, such as cinematography, editing, and sound design and so on, providing hands on learning with industry exposure and collaboration.

Key Highlights

• Creative and technical tracks designed for emerging Arab women filmmakers
• Participants receive mentorship, workshops, residency, and industry project exposure
• Applications remain open until July 17 across five Arab nations

The participants will be attending workshops, online mentorship sessions, and a week-long residency programme where they will be able to develop their projects, interact with fellow participants and present their work to industry experts and film professionals.

In addition, the goal is to assist the build-up of stronger professional networks among entertainment industry participants in their region. The selected filmmakers will have the opportunity to meet experienced mentors, producers and audiovisual professionals, which will provide them with a clear understanding of how international production standards work and storytelling techniques.

The previous editions of the programme have included participating in workshops conducted in Cairo, Dubai and Jeddah as well as being provided the opportunity to visit the Netflix production hub in Tres Cantos, Madrid, where they had the opportunity to connect with many industry leaders and will gain valuable insights into the global film production process.

The participants from the previous edition premiered their short films at the Red Sea International Film Festival, which took place in 2025 and represented a significant milestone in their filmmaking development.

“It’s a major step towards creating a more sustainable and inclusive film industry in the Middle East and Africa,” said Pelin Mavili, Director of Global Affairs at Netflix for the Middle East, Africa, and Türkiye. She also noted that the ongoing collaboration with AFAC helps to foster “the whole story-telling ecosystem” and helps new filmmakers get hands-on experience in the industry.

Rima Mismar, Executive Director of AFAC, stressed the importance of authentic regional storytelling, saying Arab stories “deserve to be told on our own terms.” The project aims to develop the “capacity, confidence, and community” of women filmmakers to realize their creative vision, she added.

Applications will be accepted until July 17, while selected participants are expected to be announced by the end of August.