Today at Apple and Art Jameel Cinema invite you to apply for the inaugural Creative Lab Film Academy, an annual programme supporting early- and mid-career filmmakers in Saudi Arabia as they develop their craft and creative vision.

About the programme

Creative Lab Film Academy is an intensive, six-month, Kingdom-wide training and production programme supporting original local storytelling, powered by iPhone and Mac.

Running from March to August 2026, the programme combines learn-by-doing workshops, bootcamps and one-to-one mentorship, offering both creative and technical guidance from filmmakers, artists, and industry experts.

The inaugural edition will be led 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 set designer Holy Fatma. The program will also feature masterclasses and keynotes from leading local and international guest speakers.

Workshops will take place at Hayy Cinema in Jeddah, with additional mentorship and on-site support across Saudi Arabia, responding to where each project is developed and filmed.

The programme culminates in the production and premiere of three original short fiction films, with screenings taking place in Autumn 2026 at Hayy Cinema, alongside additional venues and festivals.

Creative Lab Film Academy is developed by Art Jameel in collaboration with Today at Apple and will run over three years, with one cohort selected annually.

Who should apply?

Applicants must apply as a director–producer duo. Three primary duos will be selected, each choosing two additional team members (for example, an editor, scriptwriter, or casting lead) from the candidate pool. This will form three teams of four, each producing one film.

How to apply

We’re looking for original, locally rooted storytelling, with no prescribed theme. To apply, please submit an original working script for a 5–10 minute short fiction film.

Participants must be available to take part in the full development and production process between March and August 2026.

Applications close February 15, 2026.

For questions, please contact hayy@artjameel.org