Haifaa al-Mansour facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Haifaa al-Mansour
Haifaa in 2011
Born	(1974-08-10) 10 August 1974 (age 51) Al Zulfi, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Alma mater	The American University in Cairo University of Sydney
Occupation	Director, producer, screenwriter
Years active	1997–present
Spouse(s)	Bradley Niemann
Children	2

Haifaa al-Mansour (Arabic: هيفاء المنصور Hayfā'a al-Manṣūr; born August 10, 1974) is a famous Saudi Arabian film director. She is known as one of the first female filmmakers from Saudi Arabia.

Early Life and Education

Haifaa is one of twelve children. Her father, Abdul Rahman Mansour, was a poet who loved movies. He introduced her to films using video tapes, because there were no movie theaters in Saudi Arabia for many years (from 1983 to 2018). She especially enjoyed movies starring Jackie Chan.

Haifaa grew up in Al-Hasa, a town that was quite traditional. Even though cinema was not allowed, her father would rent movies for their large family to watch together. This was not always easy, and some people in their town did not approve. However, her father encouraged Haifaa and her siblings to follow their passions.

While her parents were open-minded, her mother hoped Haifaa would choose a traditional career like a doctor or engineer. But Haifaa found her true calling in filmmaking. She studied comparative literature at The American University in Cairo. Later, she earned a master's degree in Film Studies from the University of Sydney in Australia.

Career in Filmmaking

Haifaa al-Mansour started her career by making short films. Some of her early works include Who?, The Bitter Journey, and The Only Way Out. The Only Way Out even won awards in the United Arab Emirates and the Netherlands.

She then made a documentary called Women Without Shadows. This film explored the lives of women in the Arab States of the Persian Gulf. It was shown at many international film festivals and won awards.

Directing Wadjda

Haifaa's first full-length movie was Wadjda, which she also wrote. This film was special because it was the first feature film ever shot entirely in Saudi Arabia. It was also the first feature film made by a female director in Saudi Arabia.

Wadjda tells the story of a 10-year-old girl living in Riyadh who dreams of owning a green bicycle. Making the film took five years due to various challenges. Because men and women were kept separate in Saudi Arabia, Haifaa had to direct the movie from a small van. She used a monitor and a walkie-talkie to give instructions to her team.

Even with these difficulties, Haifaa felt it was important to make the film. Wadjda was chosen as Saudi Arabia's first-ever entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards.

Films About Strong Women

Haifaa often creates movies about strong, independent women. She is inspired by her own experiences. She believes it's important to discuss topics that are usually not talked about in her culture. Her films encourage people to think differently about what women in Saudi Arabia can do.

In 2017, she directed Mary Shelley, a romantic drama about the early life of the writer Mary Shelley. She also directed Nappily Ever After, a film based on a popular book.

In 2015, Haifaa was chosen to be a judge at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, a very important film festival. In 2019, she received a special Crystal Award at the World Economic Forum for her leadership in cultural change in the Arab world.

Haifaa has also directed episodes for several television series. These include The Good Lord Bird in 2020 and The Society in 2019. She has continued to direct for TV shows like The L Word: Generation Q, The Sinner, Archive 81, Tales of the Walking Dead, Mayfair Witches, Florida Man, City on Fire, Bosch: Legacy, and Fear the Walking Dead.

Personal Life

Haifaa al-Mansour lived in Bahrain for some years. She later moved to California with her husband, Bradley Niemann, who is an American diplomat. They have two children, Adam and Haylie.

Filmography

Short Film

Documentary Film

• Women Without Shadows (نساء بلا الظل) (2005)

Feature Film

Television

Awards and Recognition

Haifaa al-Mansour has received several awards and nominations for her work:

• BAFTA award for Best Film Not in the English Language for Wadjda (2014)
• Nominee for the Sutherland Award at the BFI London Film Festival for Wadjda (2014)
• Sundance Film Festival Global Filmmaking Award (2015)
• Nominee for the Audience Award at the Edinburgh Film Festival for Mary Shelley (2018)
• Nominee for the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival for The Perfect Candidate (2019)

See also

In Spanish: Haifaa al-Mansour para niños