Haifaa Al-Mansour

Haifaa Al-Mansour is a Saudi Arabian film director recognized as the first female filmmaker in Saudi Arabia. Al-Mansour earned a bachelor's degree in literature from the American University in Cairo and a master's degree in directing and film studies from the University of Sydney. Before fully pursuing a career in filmmaking, she worked at an oil company and taught English.

Al-Mansour began her career with three short films: "Who?," "The Bitter Journey," and "The Only Way Out." The latter received awards in the United Arab Emirates and the Netherlands. Her documentary "Women Without Shadows" received international recognition and contributed to the emergence of a new generation of Saudi filmmakers, sparking public discussion about the opening of cinemas in the Kingdom.

Al-Mansour's feature debut, "Wadjda," marked a milestone in Saudi cinema as the first full-length feature shot entirely in Saudi Arabia. The film, which she wrote and directed, premiered at the Venice Film Festival and was selected as Saudi Arabia's entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards. "Wadjda" also received a nomination for Best Foreign Film at the BAFTA Awards and won the Arab Award for Best Film Feature at the Dubai International Film Festival. The production of "Wadjda" required Al-Mansour to direct from a van due to gender segregation laws, using a monitor and walkie-talkie to communicate with the crew.

Following "Wadjda," Al-Mansour directed "Mary Shelley," which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, and "The Perfect Candidate," a film about a young female doctor running for office in local elections. "The Perfect Candidate" was the first film supported by the Saudi Film Council and was among the few films directed by women in the Official Competition at the Venice Film Festival. Al-Mansour received a Crystal Award at the World Economic Forum in Davos for her contributions to cultural transformation in the Arab world.

Al-Mansour has directed episodes of television series including "Archive 81," "City on Fire," "Tales of the Walking Dead," and "Bosch: Legacy." Her short film "What If You Can?" for Nike achieved significant online viewership. Her feature "Unidentified" premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and stars Mila Al Zahrani in a story centered on a true crime aficionado investigating a case in the Saudi desert.

Within Saudi Arabia, Al-Mansour's work has generated discussion on topics such as tolerance, orthodoxy, and cultural traditions. She often focuses on stories about strong, independent women, drawing from her own experiences. Al-Mansour has contributed to the development of the Saudi film industry through her involvement with the Saudi Film Commission and continues to advocate for the power of storytelling in cinema.