After graduating from Aiglon, what did you study at university?
After Aiglon I moved to London to study Business Management with a Minor in Media Production.
Why did you want to go into the film industry?
I’ve always loved film since I was a child. After working in the F&B industry for a few years, I couldn’t stop thinking about filmmaking so I decided to pursue film and take a shot at a passion of mine by moving to New York to go to film school.
What was the most important takeaway from your time at Aiglon that you still implement in your life today?
One of the major takeaways was being able to depend on myself and also being able to connect to different people from all cultures
What led you to launching your own company?
Creating the production company was built out of necessity as Saudi had just established our film industry at the time. There weren’t many production companies at the time that focused on the production of feature films, so that was a gap that we thought we could fill.
How has it been shaping the film industry in Saudi Arabia?
It’s a bit like the wild west to be honest, a lot of trial and error. We are in a unique position due to audiences being very savvy when it comes to films so we had to come in with the attitude to release films that are able to compete with Hollywood in local cinemas while building trust with the audiences. That made our jobs a little tougher since the audiences will compare us to industries that have been there for decades. It’s still exciting being a part of that though.
What projects are you working on at the moment?
Currently we are working on a slate of films that we are hoping to shoot within the next couple of years, one being written and directed by me. It’s a Horror/sci fi feature that will be the first of its kind in Saudi.
What is the best way to connect with you? (Website?, social media?)
To connect with me it’s best through social media @sultanmaf on Instagram but also our website www.almahafilms.com
Quickfire questions
- All time favourite film? Blade Runner
- Most memorable CLE? 5th form Strasbourg CLE
- Best part about studying in Switzerland? The natural environment.
- Most fun extracurricular activity at Aiglon? I can’t believe I’m saying this but… Expeditions.
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