Art Jameel launches Creative Lab Film Academy to nurture upcoming filmmakers in Saudi Arabia powered by iPhone and Mac

Today, Art Jameel, an organisation that supports artists and creative communities, announced the launch of Creative Lab Film Academy, a new initiative designed to nurture emerging filmmakers across Saudi Arabia who will capture their short films on iPhone and edit them on Mac, supported by Today at Apple, Apple Retail’s global creative learning programme.

An open call for the programme’s inaugural cohort is now live, inviting rising filmmakers working in Saudi Arabia to apply for a 6-month training, mentorship, and production journey, culminating in the creation of original fiction short films.

Creative Lab Film Academy is designed to support filmmakers as they grow their craft and creative vision. Created by Art Jameel Cinema—a strand within Art Jameel’s wider programming—and supported by Today at Apple, the programme blends technology, storytelling, and filmmaking practice. It offers participants access to industry mentorship, hands-on learning, and creative tools—all powered by iPhone and Mac—to help bring original stories to life.

Antonia Carver, Director of Art Jameel, said: “We are delighted to deliver the Creative Lab Film Academy, an intensive academy-style programme that privileges storytelling as much as it does the latest technology. By working with early- and mid-career filmmakers across Saudi Arabia, the initiative reflects Art Jameel’s ongoing commitment to supporting artists at pivotal moments in their careers and strengthening the creative ecosystem within which they work. It also captures the growing energy and ambition within the Kingdom’s film sector at a time of profound cultural transformation.”

Creative Lab Film Academy will select three fiction short film projects through an open call, assessed by a jury of film industry experts and mentors. Applicants are encouraged to apply as director-producer duos, with selected projects invited to build on their wider teams as the programme progresses.

Each selected project’s director-producer team will take part in a 6-month intensive training and mentorship programme, combining Today at Apple sessions, masterclasses, and one-to-one guidance led by renowned filmmakers, creatives, and technologists from within Art Jameel.

The programme, will comprise a series of workshops at Hayy Cinema, Saudi Arabia’s first independent audio-visual centre, alongside mentorship and training delivered on-site across Saudi Arabia according to where crews will be setting and shooting their original stories. Each cohort will culminate in the production of three fiction short films, premiering at a dedicated screening event at Hayy Cinema, alongside other venues and festivals, with the first screening scheduled for Autumn 2026.

At Apple Stores around the world, Today at Apple inspires and empowers people to unlock and explore their creativity to do incredible things. With the academy, Today at Apple is supporting participants through creative learning sessions, technical guidance, and workshops focused on filmmaking with Apple devices. Apple Retail team members and collaborators will contribute to sessions exploring camera features, editing workflows, and creative possibilities, enabling filmmakers to fully harness the accessibility of Apple technology in the development and production of their films.

The inaugural edition will be guided by a distinguished group of mentors, including acclaimed Saudi screenwriter and filmmaker Hani Kadour; Fanny Lamothe, CEO of Cercle Rouge Productions; actor, writer, and director Ayoub Layoussifi; and filmmaker Holy Fatma, alongside masterclasses and keynotes by renowned local and international guest speakers.

Driven by a focus on youth empowerment and community-centred practice, Creative Lab Film Academy reflects Art Jameel’s long-term commitment to nurturing creative ecosystems in Saudi Arabia. While anchored in the film community at Hayy Cinema, elements of the programme may also be delivered across Art Jameel’s wider spaces, including Hayy Makers, a new community space dedicated to learning and making.

Creative Lab Film Academy places a strong emphasis on novel partnerships in filmmaking and cinema, creating pathways for Saudi filmmakers to connect with regional and international practitioners and engage in global creative conversations. The programme builds on the role of Art Jameel Cinema, headed by Zohra Ait El Jamar—which focuses on the breadth of creative vision on screen, from thematic festivals and a daily screening programme at Hayy Cinema, through to artists’ films, cine-clubs, and extensive training and mentorship initiatives.

By integrating training, mentorship and production within a community-driven environment, Creative Lab Film Academy establishes a new platform for filmmakers to develop their practice, build professional networks, and contribute to the continued growth of Saudi Arabia’s film and cinema sector.

Submissions for Creative Lab Film Academy are now open. Applicants are encouraged to apply no later than February 15, 2026.