The investment is part of Netflix’s newly created ‘Fund for Creative Equity’.
On International Women’s Day, Netflix is investing in the next generation of female storytellers, pledging $5m globally towards programmes that help identify, train and provide work placements for up-and-coming female talent around the world. The investment is part of Netflix’s newly created ‘Fund for Creative Equity’, which will invest $20m a year for the next five years in building more inclusive pipelines behind the camera.
Netflix aims to increase equality of women on and off-screen. Through partnerships with local third parties and bespoke programmes, Netflix will support a range of initiatives – from workshops to train aspiring female writers and producers on how best to pitch their creative vision, to shadowing opportunities on productions that enable women to gain valuable first-hand experience.
Netflix believes that more people deserve to see their life represented on screen and, globally, has already brought many female firsts to life in front of and behind the camera including the first Indigenous Mexican Academy Award actress nominee; the first Korean female stand-up special and the first Black woman to direct a superhero movie.
Equally, Arab women continue to tell beautiful, complex and nuanced stories and Netflix is partnering with these storytellers to bring their unique perspectives to life. In 2021, Netflix will be launching the first Arabic Original led by Tima Shomali with a full female cast and crew with Al Rawabi School For Girls providing female Arab talent with an international stage. Later in the year, Netflix will launch Finding Ola which will see actress Hend Sabry take the role of Executive Producer for the first time in her career.
While the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity will help create more exciting firsts, celebrate this International Women’s Day by watching films and series from some of the many women who paved the way in entertainment. The movies include Panoptic – directed by Rana Eid from Lebanon, Nappily Ever After – directed by Haifa Al Mansour from Saudi Arabia, Wajib – directed by Anne Marie Jacir from Palestine and more.
