Fresh voices, bold perspectives, and stories told with confidence, that’s the energy Bring Your Story to Life brought to the Red Sea International Film Festival. Celebrated as part of The Red Sea: New Vision strand, the screening of films from the Women in Film: Bring Your Story to Life program marked a powerful moment for emerging women filmmakers across the region.
Supported by Netflix and the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC), Bring Your Story to Life isn’t just a program, it’s a platform where creative ambition meets real opportunity, and where new filmmakers step into the spotlight with stories that feel urgent, personal, and unapologetically original.
What Is Bring Your Story to Life?
Bring Your Story to Life is a five-month women-focused filmmaking program launched through a partnership between Netflix and AFAC. Designed to nurture emerging talent, the initiative supported 20 women filmmakers from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, and Kuwait, guiding them from idea to final cut.
Through this initiative, participants received hands-on mentorship across every stage of filmmaking, from writing and directing to cinematography, editing, and producing, while working collaboratively in teams. Each project was supported with a $25,000 production grant, giving filmmakers the freedom to focus on storytelling without creative compromise.
From Mentorship to the Big Screen
A key strength of Bring Your Story to Life lies in its structured, practical approach. Filmmakers worked closely with industry mentors through workshops and guided production phases, with post-production completed in Saudi Arabia.
The Red Sea International Film Festival became the natural next step. By screening these films as part of The Red Sea: New Vision strand, the festival amplified the mission of Bring Your Story to Life, connecting emerging voices with global audiences and industry professionals.
Why This Program Matters
“Supporting women to tell their stories, with confidence in their own artistic vision, is essential,” said AFAC Executive Director Rima Mismar, highlighting the core philosophy behind Bring Your Story to Life. The program prioritizes freedom of expression, independent voices, and access to the resources needed to grow within the film industry.
Netflix echoed this vision. According to Pelin Mavili, Director of Global Affairs at Netflix for the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye, Bring Your Story to Life reflects Netflix’s broader commitment to empowering emerging talent and building a more inclusive creative ecosystem across the Arab world.
The Films That Defined Bring Your Story to Life
Five short films from the Bring Your Story to Life program were screened at the festival, each offering a distinct cinematic voice and perspective:
- Jareesh Salam
- Somewhere Else
- Of Burning Memories & Wounds
- No Land in Sight
- Cleanse the Streets
Together, these films showcased the diversity of themes, styles, and narratives that Bring Your Story to Life encourages, authentic, thoughtful storytelling rooted in lived experience.
A Launchpad for Emerging Filmmakers
Beyond the screenings, Bring Your Story to Life opened doors. Presenting at the Red Sea International Film Festival allowed filmmakers to engage directly with producers, editors, and decision-makers, turning creative work into career momentum.
By placing emerging talent on a global stage, Bring Your Story to Life proved that when women are given space, trust, and resources, the result is cinema that resonates far beyond the screen.
The 48 Hour Challenge
Just like this amazing initiative, the Red Sea Film Festival also hosted the 48-Hour Challenge, where multiple talents created a short film in just 48 hours. You can learn more about the competition and the winners, here.
