RIYADH: Saudi women film students will have access to funding and industry support after one of the Kingdom’s pioneering cinematic schools renewed its partnership with the Red Sea Film Foundation.
The agreement with Effat University’s Cinematic Arts School aims to empower Saudi women filmmakers through financial and professional support.
It was signed during the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, which is overseen by the foundation.
The partnership offers direct financing from the foundation’s Red Sea Fund and mentoring through the stages of selected student film projects.
The foundation said the support model advances both the artistic quality of the films and the professional growth of the filmmakers.
Faisal Baltyuor, CEO of the Red Sea Film Foundation, said the partnership with Effat University “reflects our commitment to empowering emerging Saudi female filmmakers and expanding their opportunities within the industry.”
He added: “Together, we aim to cultivate a new generation of talent that will contribute meaningfully to the future of Saudi cinema, in line with Vision 2030.”
Dr. Haifa Reda Jamal Al-Lail, Effat University’s president, said the partnership aligned with the university’s mission to “empower women and provide students with the skills, resources, and industry access to excel as filmmakers and storytellers.”
The agreement comes as Saudi women play an increasing role in the Kingdom’s burgeoning film industry, which has grown rapidly under the Vision 2030 reform program.
The Effat University’s Cinematic Arts School was set up in 2013 in Jeddah through an academic partnership with the University of Southern California.
It was the first film school in Saudi Arabia providing a bachelor’s degree in film production, direction, and animation.
It has played a pioneering role in developing cinematic education in the Kingdom, nurturing creative talent and promoting women’s participation in the film industry.
Red Sea Film Foundation’s partnership with the school is part of its Women in Cinema initiative.
