The agreement with Effat University’s Cinematic Arts School aims to empower Saudi women filmmakers through financial and professional support.
Saudi women studying film will gain increased access to funding and industry mentorship following the renewal of a partnership between the Red Sea Film Foundation and Effat University’s Cinematic Arts School, one of the Kingdom’s leading institutions for film education.
The agreement, signed during the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, reinforces efforts to empower emerging Saudi women filmmakers through a combination of financial backing and professional support. Under the partnership, selected student film projects will receive direct financing from the Red Sea Fund, along with mentorship spanning the development, production and completion stages.
The foundation said the initiative is designed to strengthen both the artistic quality of student films and the long-term professional development of their creators, helping bridge the gap between education and the film industry.
Faisal Baltyuor, CEO of the Red Sea Film Foundation, said the renewed collaboration reflects the organisation’s commitment to expanding opportunities for Saudi female filmmakers. He added that the partnership aims to nurture a new generation of talent capable of contributing to the growth of Saudi cinema in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals.
Effat University president Dr Haifa Reda Jamal Al-Lail said the agreement supports the university’s mission to empower women by equipping students with the skills, resources and industry exposure needed to succeed as filmmakers and storytellers.
The renewed partnership comes as Saudi women continue to play an increasingly prominent role in the country’s rapidly developing film sector, which has expanded significantly under the Vision 2030 reform programme.
The collaboration with Effat University forms part of the Red Sea Film Foundation’s broader Women in Cinema initiative, which focuses on supporting female filmmakers across the region.
