Meshal Al Jaser
When you watch viral short films of YouTube channel Folaim, it’s hard to imagine that behind it is a 22-year-old named Mashael Al Jaser. This Saudi film director, writer, and actor pushes the boundaries of filmmaking, often exploring social themes using dark humor, eccentric aesthetics, and a sharp wit. His latest trending film Can I go out? is a musical parody of sorts that tackles issues young Saudi women encounter. On the international front, he was the youngest director to to debut at the Saudi Film Days Festival. Al Jaser’s Is Sumiyati Going to Hell? was selected by Paramount Pictures to be screened at their studios and in Ace Theatre in Los Angeles. The film also won the top prize for Qumrah. Currently, Meshal is based in L.A., where he is completing his BFA in screenwriting. MeshalAljaser
Maha Al Saati
Maha Al Saati considers herself to be “an independent experimental filmmaker striving to make low-budget films and videos in an increasingly commercial world.” She directed and co-produced Fear: Audibly, a thriller that explores the experimental ruminations of the end of days. The film was screened at the 4th Saudi Film Festival, Fantastic Fest, and The Arab
Film Festival in Rotterdam. Al Saati also filmed Elo’s Nest, a short horror film about two girls who learn of the myth of the headless Aswang. Apart from being a filmmaker and, at some point, an interior designer, she is also a member of the academe, teaching and writing in the field of media studies, interactive narratives, and adventure games. She holds a PhD in Interactive Arts and Technology from Simon Fraser University. mahalsa film
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