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 Zafeer Almas Production House, actor, producer, writer, and singer/songwriter, has grown to take such care in the message that her art sends to the world. This wise perspective came to her through time and a watchful eye.
Mana grew up in Egypt, exposing her “to the entertainment industry at a time when it did not yet exist in Saudi Arabia.” Members in her close circle were actors, actresses, singers, and songwriters. Naturally, she fell in love with the creative world. When the time came to choose a career, Mana knew which direction to go in. While inching towards her debut as an actress, she quickly learned that networking was everything. Applying to acting or writing positions without knowing somebody in the field made it difficult to get past the interview stage. So, she extracted the most out of every opportunity and connection. She started by acting in advertisements, then moved on to series and short films. She even released her first pop song.
From an outsider’s perspective, this may seem like a linear path. But Mana’s story cannot be properly told without an understanding of the environment of the time, and the challenges it posed. “When I began working as an actress in advertisements,” Mana remembers, “I was among the first Saudis to do so during a period when it was socially frowned upon. It required a great deal of courage, not only because of immediate family considerations but also extended family and broader community judgment.” It was imperative that she remained steadfast in her passion for the arts.
As her career progressed, she began to observe that the roles she was offered, and the performances she was expected to give, were superficial – stereotypical, even. She recalls accepting jobs that didn’t leave the lingering sense of positivity for which she yearned. The wheels in her mind started turning: “How can [I] create more meaningful characters?” Mana wondered.
Inventing a character, a storyline, a song – it requires a holistic approach, one that considers the depth of our human experience. There’s a sense of raw honesty that Mana felt was missing from the process. She remembers watching her friends profoundly transform after listening to inspiring messages delivered through music. Witnessing the life-altering power that words can have on a person made her realize that “every story has two sides. You can make it sad, [or] you can make it happy in a way where you’re still true to the story.” The power of perception resides with the storyteller. The weight of her responsibility as an artist had sunk in.
Mana let that fuel her subsequent projects. To start, she took inspiration from her very own authentic story, releasing a song with Aziz Mara about overcoming obstacles and staying positive, and developing a TV series that won in the 2023 Red Sea Souk. Steadily, she worked her way up to co-producing through Zafeer Almas Production House. Heading her own production company has made her mission much more efficient: “It [makes] the whole process more professional. People respond better when you have a production company.” It’s given her the creative freedom to portray relatable and genuine characters. She uses the platform to tell stories about real life in Saudi. She aspires to share films and songs that are inspired by the community around her; she’s the bridge that connects her audience to underrepresented corners of Saudi culture.
The genre she’s particularly focused on is mental health. The Kingdom has opened mental health hotlines, and Mana is supporting the positive momentum through the messaging in her work, such as the short film she created through the AlUla Creates initiative, When the Shelves Hymn, which addresses suicide and depression across older and younger generations alike.
Mana is also supporting other female filmmakers through the films that she is currently co-producing. The mindful intentions and storytelling expertise of Mana and her team will continue to pioneer the healing and uplifting of hearts through radiant positivity.
Follow her journey on Instagram: @mana.almajd!
Written by Sydney Leclerc
