There is incredible talent in the Arab world, but we need to do more to amplify these voices to a global audience. We love telling stories and to tell stories that haven’t been told before, we need to work with the region’s creative industry, to empower new and established voices with the tools they need to tell the best version of their authentic stories.

That’s why we partnered with the National Creative Industries Group (NCIG) last year to launch the ‘Lab 6x6 program’ to help six screenwriters from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia experience the full process of creating content - from script-writing through to pitching.

That program wrapped up this week with the six writers — Dania Waseem Al-Tayeb (KSA), Faisal Al-Beloushi (Kuwait), Jassim Al-Qames (Kuwait), Mohammed Nedal Jalal Salam (Kuwait), Osama Ali Shar (KSA) and, Rulan Hasan (KSA) — finalizing six scripts, complete with narratives, characters, and entire worlds that are unique, authentic, and relatable to many of us in the Arab world, but written to match global industry standards. They’re now in the process of pitching their ideas to us.

Throughout the six weeks, the writers received intense training, from the world-renowned New York Film Academy and award-winning writers and directors Dan Kay and David O’Leary, who helped the writers learn and refine important industry skills. In addition, a virtual masterclass was conducted by Netflix’s Director of Grow Creative, Christopher Mack. Other regional entertainment icons like Egyptian writer and director Farida Zahran, Egyptian writer and script consultant Wael Hamdy, Saudi writer and producer Hisham Fageeh, Kuwaiti novelist and TV writer Mona AlShammari, in addition to award-winning screenwriter Mariam Naoum also mentored the writers throughout the process, helping them deliver the best version of their work. All six program participants were genuinely inspired by the enthusiasm and eagerness that these mentors brought to the program. This is a great example of the industry coming together to share strengths that can help us all grow.

We’ve worked with incredible storytellers, writers, producers, and talents over the last few years to tell more authentic Arab stories to the world. But this is only the beginning of our journey. We want to do more to support those in the industry, and those hoping to break through.

JoAnn kharma
Communications Manager, Middle East & North Africa
jkharma@netflix.com