Vertigo Films has a longstanding history of discovering and supporting new talent since launching in 2002, with a number of their films and HETV productions kick-starting the international careers of leading names, including Tom Hardy (Bronson), Gareth Edwards (Monsters), Vanessa Kirby (Kill Command), Sofia Boutella (StreetDance 2), Tom Shankland (The Children), Nicholas Winding Refn (Bronson) and Issa Lopez (Britannia).

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 is an award-winning director, with her 2019 feature film A Perfect Candidate, appearing at film festivals all across the world, including Sundance, and winning best film at both the London Film Festival and Venice Film Festival. Al-Mansour has seen critical acclaim and multiple awards across her films including her debut feature film Wadjda, which was both the first to be shot entirely in Saudi Arabia and the first by a female director, as well as regency drama Mary Shelley starring Elle Fanning.

‘AlUla Creates’ is a platform designed to nurture creativity and empower and engage future generations in film, the arts and fashion. Rolling out its second phase of the AlUla filmmaking mentoring programme  this opportunity will provide the filmmakers with mentorship from renowned industry professionals and the tools to further develop their projects with the aim of shaping the industry of the future,

Submissions for the AlUla Creates competition open today until August 31st 2023, during which Saudi women filmmakers can apply to be part of the programme in the hopes of working with Vertigo Films, Haifaa Al Mansour, Katie Holmes and the Film AlUla team to create a short film, shot in AlUla. Entrants of all experience are encouraged to submit a piece of audio-visual work they have directed, alongside a synopsis of the short film idea, they would like to develop.

This expert panel of industry professionals, including Vertigo Films, Film AlUla, Actress and Director, Katie Holmes and Saudi Filmmaker, Haifaa Al Mansour will evaluate the submissions; assessing their originality, creativity, thematic depth, character development, and their potential to engage and captivate audiences. A shortlist of filmmakers will be invited to pitch directly to the panel before the final three filmmakers are selected.

To complete their 10-minute short films, the winning three filmmakers will receive a $20,000 production grant, three-months of mentoring and training, additional funding for treatment development, and on-the ground support throughout the filmmaking process. The filmmakers will also be flown to London to learn about the international marketplace, meeting with key sales, distribution, post and VFX companies, with each of the filmmakers also being supported through submissions to local and international film festivals.

Charlene Deleon-Jones, Executive Director at Film AlUla, said: “As we continue to develop our AlUla Creates initiative and secure more incredible mentors like the trailblazing Haifaa Al Mansour, we are delighted to welcome Vertigo Films as a partner for the film phase of programme. Their unparalleled experience as producers and remarkable track record in discovering and supporting up and coming talent will be vital as we strive to provide a platform for the next generation of Saudi women filmmakers. We are very much looking forward to engaging with the submissions and seeing the phenomenal stories that are waiting to be told on the international stage.”