Netflix bags six Saudi shorts

Netflix has acquired six short films from Saudi Arabian prodco Telfaz11 which will be released on the platform under the name Six Windows in the Desert.

The titles will cover topics such as social taboos, extremism and the human psyche and will be available on the platform in 190 countries from February 27.

Six Windows in the Desert comprises 27th of Shaban, Wasati, Is Sumyati Going to Hell?, Predicament in Sight, The Rat and Curtain.

27th of Shaban is set in the early 2000s and sees two young Saudis meet for a date, an act prohibited in their country.

Wasati is based on the true story of an extremist attack on a play in Riyadh 10 years ago and is directed by Ali Kalthami.

Is Sumyati Going to Hell? tells the story of a housemaid who is subjected to racism and mistreatment by her employers, as seen through the eyes of the youngest family member.

The sci-fi short Predicament in Sight is set in the 1970s and follows the survivors of a plane crash stranded on a desert island as they struggle to survive.

The Rat is written and directed by Faisal Al Amer and centres on Fahad, who spends the last day of his life with the fear of his father looming over him.

Finally, Curtain, directed by Mohamed Alsalman, follows a nurse as she attempts to overcome trauma only to face fear and judgement in her workplace.

In related news, filming for Netflix’s latest Swedish original series, Love & Anarchy, has started in Stockholm.

The eight-part series features a career-driven consultant and married mother of two who meets a young IT technician. An unexpected flirtatious game begins, as the pair secretly challenge each other to do things that question societal norms.

The series is created by screenwriter and director Lisa Langseth and produced by Swedish prodco FLX. Love & Anarchy will launch exclusively on Netflix later this year.