Pioneering nonprofit Womanity has partnered with Righters House, a dynamic screenwriting and story development studio based in Saudi Arabia, on new initiative, She Shoots, to provide training, mentorship and career development for emerging female filmmakers, strengthening the foundations of a thriving and inclusive film industry in the Kingdom.
The free, two-week intensive workshop addresses the lack of accessible professional training available to female filmmaking talent in the country. Covering four key technical areas — camera, sound, lighting, and production design — it will culminate in the creation of a short film by each participant that focuses on gender equality, to be distributed to film festivals in 2026. This crucial hands-on experience will allow participants to develop their skills in a real-world production environment and guarantee an on-screen credit to showcase in their portfolios — a vital step in securing future employment in the industry.
The workshop lead is acclaimed screenwriter Rulan Hasan, who founded creative studio Righters House in 2021. With a focus on authentic storytelling and industry-driven training, it nurtures emerging talent, equipping them with the skills they need to bring their creative ideas to life, and connecting them with production opportunities. Righters House alumni have already achieved critical success, including writing credits on Netflix titles ‘Slave’ and Script Supervisor credits on ‘Crashing Eid,’ and winning the 48-Hour Film Challenge at the Red Sea International Film Festival with films created in Righters House workshops.
Rulan Hasan says, “This workshop is born from a deep belief that women belong in every corner of the film industry — not only as storytellers, but as technicians, leaders, and visionaries. For too long, access to technical roles has been gatekept by systems that overlook women’s potential. With She Shoots, we’re changing that by offering real opportunities to train, collaborate, and create. Our goal is to make the invisible visible — giving these women both the tools and the credits to step into their rightful place in the industry.”
She Shoots is part of a broader programme to develop a vibrant ecosystem of female storytellers behind the screen in Saudi Arabia. In 2024, Righters House, supported by Womanity, held two workshops to train 13 female script writers to develop pitch-ready scripts and leverage the opportunity to present their work to local and regional production houses.
Hatun Ali, Saudi-based filmmaker says, “The Righters House workshop was fertile ground for planting my ideas and watching them bloom. It was a secret garden, a safe and creative space nurtured by generous guidance and a passionate community. With their support, I’ve been able to take my stories to the next level.”
The partnership with Righters House is part of Womanity’s ongoing commitment to investing in and amplifying emerging female creative voices in the MENA region through their Disruptive Media programme, which aims to advance progressive narratives, challenge stereotypes and reshape public opinion around gender roles in local communities.
Shivani Gupta, Co-CEO, Womanity says, “In Saudi Arabia’s evolving creative landscape, storytelling is becoming a powerful tool for change, and we’re proud to be part of that movement. Entrenched gender norms continue to hold women back. That is why we are investing not just in women’s voices but in their skills. When more women are equipped to write, shoot and shape stories, we begin to see richer, more authentic portrayals of women on screen — stories seen through their own lens.”