Saudi producer to give Arab women filmmakers a voice

CANNES: A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study at the world-famous University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) in the United States is being offered to three Arab women from across the globe — including Australia.
Saudi Arabia’s Hani Farsi — who produced last year’s lauded docudrama ‘20,000 Days on Earth’, starring Nick Cave — made the surprise announcement at the Cannes film festival on Tuesday.
Farsi, 46, a film mogul and philanthropist, has been an active supporter of the arts since setting up shop in the United Kingdom (he hails from Saudi Arabia, but was educated in the US). Prior to backing the Nick Cave film, he supported London’s Donmar Warehouse Theatre.
“I want it to be as open as possible,” he told Fairfax Media, of the initiative. “I want to discuss important issues we have. We’re going through some massive changes in the Arab world. I want the change to come through peaceful means, through the arts. Once you have a voice and express yourself, you regain your dignity. You are a master of your destiny.”
The four-year scholarship offers three emerging filmmakers of Arab descent — including those in Australia — the chance to study for a Master of Fine Arts in Directing, at one of the prestigious film schools in the world. The first intake at UCLA begins later this year.
“We’re going to be helping them with internships, with training, with scripts,” Farsi added. “We’re going to be guiding them, because it’s a difficult business to break into.”
The initiative is being supported by several Arab female filmmakers who have emerged on to the world stage in recent years. Notably, Saudi director Haifaa Al-Mansour, Egypt’s Jehane Noujaim, Lebanon’s Nadine Labai and Jordanian-American Cherien Dabis.