Netflix sets up Because She Created scriptwriting scheme for women in Egypt

Mariam Naoum

Netflix has set up a writing programme for female creatives in Egypt as part of its efforts to create new opportunities for underrepresented communities within the entertainment industry.

Because She Created will launch on September 12 in partnership with Sard, a dedicated hub for scriptwriters in the Arab world, to train women in writing and develop their storytelling and creative expression skills.

The programme is part of the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity and aims to introduce storytelling as a viable career option for the next generation of Egyptian women.

The writing programme will recruit 20 women from outside Cairo and equip them with the creative tools and industry insight needed to advance their professional development, the global streamer said.

The five-day programme will be hosted in Cairo and will include storytelling classes, creative expression sessions, as well as daily artistic activities like trips to the theatre and the cinema.

It comes after Netflix partnered with the Arab Fund for Arts & Culture to provide financial assistance to women producers and directors in the Arab world earlier this year.

In July, Netflix launched a collection of 21 films by Arab female filmmakers spanning various genres including documentary, drama and romance under the Because She Created banner.

Mariam Naoum, CEO and founder of Sard, said: “Sard believes that expressing oneself through writing is the first step to self-discovery, and we’re proud to have discovered talent through this programme that we feel will one day become scriptwriters of the future.

“The Arab world, including Egypt, is ripe with talent. What they need is concerted effort and professional support to nurture their growth. Women in the region, in particular, need this kind of incubation and technical support to gain access to opportunities that advance their professional growth in an industry where their presence is still limited. Sard is trying to achieve this through the work we do, and through partnerships with organisations like Netflix that help steer talent in the right direction.”