Photos from the first edition of the HerStory Films incubator presenting jury, mentors, and participants, as well as the project's co-founders, actress Mona Zaki and media specialist and publisher May Abdel-Asim [R].
The incubator is a unique initiative launched by actress Mona Zaki and media specialist and publisher May Abdel-Asim. The call is open to all Egyptian residents and registered refugees residing in Egypt.
It is dedicated to developing and producing short films.
The incubator accepts entries from applicants with considerable filmmaking experience with scripted content such as web series, short films, or commercials.
The chosen candidates receive mentorship, resources, and a platform to bring their stories to life.
According to the incubator's press release, the programme is designed to develop and produce six short films over three years through funding extended by its supporters.
Mona Zaki expressed her excitement about this venture in the release, stating, "I am thrilled to be a part of HerStory Films and contribute to empowering women in the Arab film industry. We have an abundance of talent waiting to be discovered, and I am confident that through HerStory Films, we will bring these diverse stories to the world."
Speaking to Ahram Online, the incubator's founder and CEO, May Abdel-Asim, highlighted the success of the incubator's last year edition, saying, "The first edition of incubator brought to life many fascinating projects; we developed 20 short films, six reached the pitching phase, and three of them are being produced at the moment, and are about to enter production shooting."
The three films are directed by young female filmmakers Fatma Abed, Mona Dawoud, and Marianne Hanna, who benefited from sessions offered to them by renowned mentors from the film industry, including Ahmed Badawy, Yomna Khattab, Tamer Ashry, Nadine Khan, Ahmed Abdallah, Aiten Amin, and many others.
The mentors' names participating in the incubator's second edition are yet to be revealed.
"With such a strong foundation and proven impact, the second edition of the incubator aims to encourage even more new voices in Arab cinema, supporting female filmmakers in shaping powerful narratives and producing high-quality short films," Abdel-Asim added.
"We are dedicated to providing opportunities, breaking down barriers, and promoting gender equality in the industry. This is just the beginning of an exciting journey, and we cannot wait to see the incredible stories that will emerge from this collaboration," she concluded.
For more info, the applicants can check the incubator's website and contact HerStory Films at [email protected]
The call for applications is open until Saturday, 19 April 2025.
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