DUBAI: As we begin 2024, Netflix MENA has announced an array of upcoming Arab-related series and films, featuring new and familiar faces. After the previous successful launches of series such as “Dubai Bling” (UAE), “Finding Ola” (Egypt), “Masameer Junior" (Saudi Arabia), “Al Rawabi School for Girls” (Jordan) and "The Exchange” (Kuwait), they will all be returning to the screen with new seasons and stories to tell. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @arabnews.lifestyle A selection of fresh projects will also be launched, such as “Basma,” filmed by Saudi actress and first-time director Fatima Al-Banawi. In her film, where Al-Banawi plays the lead role, she explores the challenges of returning to Jeddah after living abroad in the US. From Kuwait, there is a romantic comedy film, called “Honeymoonish,” following the story of lead characters Hamad and Noor’s whirlwind marriage. Directed by award-winning Lebanese filmmaker Elie El-Semaa, it is set to be released in early 2024. For young single Arabs in Dubai, a new show “Love Is Blind, Habibi” was set up to help them find true love in the bustling UAE city. And finally, a plot of revenge is coming from the eight-episode Egyptian series “Echoes of the Past,” starring Mahmoud Hemida, Asser Yassin, Saba Mubarak, among others. Elsewhere, efforts are also being made by Netflix MENA, in cooperation with Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC), to support the up-and-coming generation of female film creatives from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kuwait and Jordan. Netflix MENA has also collaborated with Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival by bringing back the “Because She Created” space, supporting emerging female writers, actors and directors, including those from the Kingdom. In an exclusive interview with Arab News, Nuha Eltayeb, the director of Content, Middle East Africa and Turkey at Netflix MENA, gave insight into the film community of the Arab world, the rise of Arab cinema, and steps taken to support regional filmmakers. Q: Looking back on 2023, can you provide an overview of how Arab-related content performed on Netflix MENA? What were some highlights and milestones? A: Over the past year, we’ve had great success with shows made in the Arab world. We have a string of returning seasons this year, from “AlRawabi School for Girls” to “Finding Ola,” “The Exchange,” and “Dubai Bling,” many of which have connected with audiences globally, ranking in Netflix’s Top 10 lists around the world. We’ve also experimented with new formats, worked with more up and coming voices, and amplified the voices of creators who are telling stories that have not been told before. We are excited to continue this and create more content that resonates with Arabs and gives global audiences access to content from our region. Can you share your thoughts on the recent rise of Saudi cinema and filmmaking and are you making a concerted effort to support Saudi projects? Are there Saudi films/series coming our way on Netflix this year? The entertainment industry in the region, particularly in Saudi Arabia, presents an incredible opportunity for aspiring creatives to grow, learn, and advance their careers. At Netflix, we are working with both new and established voices to tell more stories made in the Arab world that can be loved by Arab audiences and beyond. In Saudi Arabia, our partnerships with Telfaz11, Myrkott, and Ideation Studios have been incredibly successful. From all the Masameer shows and films to Al Khallat+, The Matchmaker, Ras b Ras, and NAGA we’ve brought a diverse range of content to our members last year, in addition to shows like “The Exchange,” “Tahir’s House,” and “Crashing Eid” from across the region. This year, we’re excited about popular Myrkott creation “Masameer Junior,” and feature film “Basma” from Saudi Arabia, which tackles the theme of mental health and features Fatima Al-Banawi as the lead actor, writer, and director. We’re also happy to see how well “From the Ashes” is doing since it launched a week ago, making it into our global Non-English Films top 10. Through your conversations with filmmakers, producers and other creatives from the region, what are some challenges they face when creating films? There is an incredible calibre of talent and stories that make up the larger creative community in the region, but they remain underrepresented. For example, we are focusing efforts on creating a level playing field for women behind the camera and working with industry partners to provide creators with the tools they need to tell the best version of their stories through partnerships, financial grants, upskilling initiatives, and exposure at regional film festivals. We also want to invest in both new and established voices to help build a qualified network of talent for the Arab film industry so that more stories made in the Arab world can be loved globally. Looking ahead at 2024, how are you implementing changes to further support the film community in the region? To serve as a meaningful part of the creative communities in the Arab world, we are working with industry partners to provide creators with the tools and training to create best in-class content through partnerships, financial grants, upskilling initiatives, and exposure at regional film festivals. The efforts differ for different parts of the Arab world, depending on each country’s needs as well as our own priorities when it comes to filling gaps in the industry.