Spotlight Series
“If you are a female filmmaker living in Saudi Arabia, then this Spotlight Series is all about you!“
— Blake Donovan, Founder
Across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, countless talented women are pursuing their dreams of working in the film industry. For some, that means studying filmmaking in a university, shooting student films, and learning new techniques and concepts of storytelling. Others have joined the workforce and begun their careers working on set or in production houses to gain on-the-job experience. Still others are faithfully watching online tutorials and using the resources they have to develop their creative capabilities with the same motivation and drive as those previously described.
At the Sunflower Seed Foundation (SSF), we believe that no matter which career stage a woman might currently be in, her work is commendable and should be celebrated, especially when that work is marked by persistence, dedication, and the humble unyielding desire to learn and grow.
Please take a moment to read about the amazing filmmakers below! For information on how to participate in the Spotlight Series, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Dahlia Baeshen
There’s a thirst for knowledge that lives within all of us. Its purpose is to build momentum that pushes us to connect with one another through shared humanity. Commonalities can be discovered between every corner of the world. Film – the marriage of words, environments, sounds, cultures – is one of the most natural ways to extend these bridges. It’s this ideology that drew Dahlia Baeshen, a Jeddah native, into the industry. The now-established screenwriter and producer was once…
Mana Almajd
No one definitively knows how their words will affect another; how a sentiment will sink into someone’s behind-the-scenes story; the kind of power that simmers within a sentence. What is certain, though, is the great responsibility one has when sharing their words on a public platform, and the even greater opportunity it presents to use spoken art as a means to spread the healing properties of positivity. This is precisely why Mana Almajd, the Saudi founder of…
Amal Aljohani
Life offers few moments that stop us in our tracks, flip our perspective upside down, and tear through our projection of the future. “I’m a cancer survivor” – words spoken by Saudi filmmaker and post-production professional Amal Aljohani. “I’ve seen life in black and white. Life and death become so real,” she continues, “So, why would I give up on my dreams?… If you have a rebel soul, you have to go for it.” The following is not a presentation of illness, nor recovery, but rather the story of a woman who refuses to settle for less than her dream of succeeding in the world of film…
Malak Quota
There’s a place that unites our uniqueness, fuses raw reality with anonymity, and captures potent emotion in a whimsical, flat-screen window. That place is Malak Quota’s world of imagination poured into beautiful animation. Malak is an established director, animator, and writer who grew up in Saudi Arabia and is now…
Rana Matar
Determination is an invaluable trait, a fact known very well by Rana Matar, a 22-year-old director who has built quite an impressive resume by proving the significance of her work through protecting and honoring her creative voice, a way of being that she first formulated while pursuing…
Maram Taibah
Once upon a time, there was a young woman, educated, curious, and searching for her life’s calling. She was, in other words, venturing out on a quest that could only be completed with persistence and self-growth. If you think this sounds like the outline of a fairytale, you’d be correct. But it’s also the trajectory of Maram Taibah’s life, a Saudi screenwriter, director, and novelist.
Hanaa Saleh Alfassi
Before her discussions around television deals, before being selected for multiple Red Sea International Film Festival workshops, there was just a girl who craved the creative expression of storytelling. For her, it was a fact of life. This girl was Hanaa Saleh Alfassi, a Saudi-born screenwriter and…
Khawlah Halawani
Picture the Bajdah Desert’s red sand baked by 27°C (81°F) temperatures. You’re dripping, not with water, but with sweat. Long, yet gripping hours fill the day. Does it sound like an ideal work environment? For Khawlah Halawani – a freelance second assistant camera operator and still photographer based in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – this type of challenging setting is exactly what she craves. In fact, it’s right where she found herself after landing a position in the camera department of Hollywood’s…
Being in the Spotlight is Easy as 1, 2, 3…
1. FOLLOW
@sunflowerseedfoundation on instagram and message us that you are interested.
2. INTERVIEW
We’ll ask you to tell us more about your experience in film and, if selected for the series, we will set up a virtual interview to learn more about you and your work!
3. FEATURE:
Following the interview, provide us with a professional headshot, pictures of you on set, and/or any other photos of your work to accompany your spotlight piece.
…AND SHARE!
When the spotlight piece is released, don’t forget to share it with your friends and family to celebrate your hard work and achievements!
Further Details
By expressing interest in the SSF Spotlight Series, you are confirming that you are a woman pursuing a career in film currently residing in Saudi Arabia and that you are 18 years of age or older. You are also giving us the right to publish the materials that you provide to us in correlation to your spotlight piece. If at any time you would like your spotlight piece to be removed from our platforms, please provide written notice to us at contactus@sunflowerseedfoundation.org and we will be more than happy to comply. This notice must be sent to us directly by the filmmaker who is the subject of the spotlight piece.
In all ways, we aim for this to be a positive experience for all involved and a pathway for people to come together across industries, countries, and cultures under the unified mission of encouraging and supporting others.