Photo of Haifaa al-Mansour

Haifaa al-Mansour

Directing

Born

August 10, 1974

Born in

Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia

Bio

Haifaa al-Mansour is the first female filmmaker in Saudi Arabia and is regarded as one of the most significant cinematic figures in the Kingdom. She finished her bachelor's degree in Literature at the American University in Cairo and completed a Master's degree in Directing and Film Studies from the University of Sydney. The success of her three short films, as well as the international acclaim of her award-winning 2005 documentary Women Without Shadows, influenced a whole new wave of Saudi filmmakers and made the issue of opening cinemas in the Kingdom a front-page discussion. Within the Kingdom her work is both praised and vilified for encouraging discussion on topics generally considered too taboo, like tolerance, the dangers of orthodoxy, and the need for Saudis to take a critical look at their traditional and restrictive culture.

Movies & Shows

Your privacy is important to us

We use cookies and tracking technologies to deliver a better browsing experience, personalize the content you see, and understand your usage patterns. Some cookies are necessary for core functionality, while others allow us to optimize our streaming service and maintain security.

By using our platform and clicking "Accept", you consent to cookies as described in our policies. Choose "Customize" to manage your settings and select which cookies you wish to allow. Find out more in our Cookies Policy.