Workshops will be held at Hayy Cinema in Jeddah, with additional training delivered on-location where crews will be shooting their original stories.
Art Jameel has unveiled a new filmmaking initiative aimed at supporting emerging storytellers in Saudi Arabia, introducing the Creative Lab Film Academy — a six-month programme that blends mentorship, hands-on production and technology-led learning. Developed with support from Today at Apple, the academy will see participants shoot fiction short films using iPhone and edit their work on Mac devices, combining accessible tools with professional training.
An open call is now inviting Saudi-based filmmakers to apply for the inaugural cohort, with the programme structured as an intensive journey culminating in the creation of original narrative short films. Organisers say the academy is designed to nurture creative voice alongside technical skill, offering participants direct access to industry mentors, masterclasses and guided production development.
The initiative is led by Art Jameel Cinema, a strand of Art Jameel’s broader cultural programming, and reflects the organisation’s focus on strengthening creative ecosystems at pivotal career stages.
Antonia Carver, Director of Art Jameel, said: “We are delighted to deliver the Creative Lab Film Academy, an intensive academy-style programme that privileges storytelling as much as it does the latest technology. By working with early- and mid-career filmmakers across Saudi Arabia, the initiative reflects Art Jameel’s ongoing commitment to supporting artists at pivotal moments in their careers and strengthening the creative ecosystem within which they work. It also captures the growing energy and ambition within the Kingdom’s film sector at a time of profound cultural transformation.”
Three fiction projects will be selected through a jury-led review process, with applicants encouraged to submit as director-producer teams. Selected participants will undergo a six-month curriculum that combines Today at Apple creative sessions, workshops and one-on-one mentorship from filmmakers, technologists and creative practitioners.
Training will take place primarily at Hayy Cinema — Saudi Arabia’s first independent audio-visual centre — alongside location-based mentoring tailored to each production’s filming environment. The programme will conclude with the premiere of three completed short films at Hayy Cinema, with additional festival and venue screenings planned. The first showcase is scheduled for autumn 2026.
Through its global creative learning framework, Today at Apple will provide participants with technical guidance and workshops focused on filming and editing workflows. Apple retail educators and collaborators will support sessions exploring camera capabilities and post-production techniques, enabling filmmakers to maximise the creative potential of Apple devices.
The inaugural academy will be guided by mentors including Saudi screenwriter and filmmaker Hani Kadour, producer Fanny Lamothe, multidisciplinary creative Ayoub Layoussifi and filmmaker Holy Fatma, alongside guest masterclasses from regional and international voices.
Framed around youth empowerment and community-driven practice, the academy is anchored within the creative environment of Hayy Cinema while extending into other Art Jameel spaces, including Hayy Makers, a learning and making hub. Programme leaders say the initiative also aims to foster new partnerships and international dialogue, connecting Saudi filmmakers with broader global networks.
The academy builds on the work of Art Jameel Cinema under the leadership of Zohra Ait El Jamar, whose programming spans curated screenings, artist films, cine-clubs and professional development opportunities. By integrating mentorship, production and community engagement, the Creative Lab Film Academy is positioned as a new platform to develop local filmmaking talent and contribute to the continued expansion of Saudi Arabia’s cinema sector.
Applications for the first cohort are open until February 15, 2026.
