Saudi Arabia, August 12, 2026: Netflix and Righters House have announced the successful completion of the Write the Future: Feature Film Writers Lab, a screenwriting development programme designed to support emerging and underrepresented voices across Saudi Arabia.
The three-region programme brought professional screenwriting training directly to creative communities in Asir, Al Madinah, and the Eastern Province, helping participants develop their ideas into market-ready feature film projects. The initiative reflects a shared commitment to strengthening Saudi Arabia’s growing creative ecosystem and creating new pathways for local storytellers to enter the film industry.
Eighteen writers were selected through a competitive application process and completed the programme with an Arabic-language feature film development package. Each project included a logline, synopsis, treatment, pitch deck, and recorded pitch, giving participants a professional foundation to take their ideas further.
The programme was delivered across three phases, combining online masterclasses with in-person workshops. Participants received training covering key areas of screenwriting, including story development, character architecture, narrative structure, project development, and pitching.
“Saudi Arabia is one of the region’s most exciting creative markets, with a new generation of writers ready to tell its stories. Through Write the Future, we’re aiming to bridge the gap between emerging talent and the film industry, reflecting our long-term commitment to strengthening the Kingdom’s storytelling ecosystem,” said Pelin Mavili, Netflix’s Director of Global Affairs for the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey.
For Righters House, the programme provided an opportunity to work closely with writers from different parts of the Kingdom and support them through the development process.
“In the course of Write the Future, we observed a profound evolution as emerging cinematic voices gained both structural clarity and creative confidence,” said Rulan Hasan, Co-founder of Righters House. “This initiative served as a vital gateway for aspiring filmmakers throughout the Kingdom, providing the essential frameworks, mentorship, and professional guidance required to advance their feature film concepts toward realization.”
Hasan also highlighted the distinctive nature of the projects developed during the programme, noting the authenticity and regional resonance of the stories created by participants.
For the writers, the lab offered an opportunity to transform early ideas into more developed film projects while gaining practical knowledge and building connections with mentors and fellow creatives.
Alhanof Alsalamah, a participant from the Madinah Hub, said the programme helped her move from an initial idea to a more developed film project while gaining deeper knowledge and becoming part of an inspiring creative community.
Meanwhile, Abdulelah Alzahrani, who participated through the Abha Hub, said the lab and its development workshops opened new possibilities in his writing, while conversations with mentors and fellow participants strengthened his project.
The completion of Write the Future comes as Saudi Arabia’s film and entertainment sector continues to expand, creating new opportunities for local writers, filmmakers, and other creative professionals. By focusing on talent development at the earliest stages of the filmmaking process, programmes such as this aim to help emerging voices build the skills needed to contribute to the Kingdom’s evolving film industry.
For Netflix and Righters House, the programme represents another step toward supporting diverse storytelling and developing the next generation of Saudi screenwriters, while giving local stories the professional craft, confidence, and platform needed to reach wider audiences.
