Meshal Aljaser

Meshal Al Jaser, hailing from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, cultivated a passion for filmmaking early in life, despite the absence of cinemas in his homeland at the time. At just 17, he made significant contributions to Folaim’s channel and became one of the pioneering Saudi directors to create short films for Telfaz 11’s YouTube platform. These channels collectively attracted an impressive audience, amassing around 870 million views and 8.6 million subscribers.

In 2016, Jaser gained recognition for his short film “Is Sumiaty Going to Hell?” which poignantly explores the challenges faced by Indonesian domestic workers in the Gulf region. This impactful work earned nominations at several Oscar-eligible festivals, including the LA Shorts Fest and NewFilmmakers Los Angeles, and it received accolades at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards, along with selections at various other film festivals.

His subsequent short film, “Under Concrete,” released in 2017, triumphed in the global Qomrah competition. In 2023, Jaser directed a campaign for the United Nations focusing on refugee issues, further establishing his commitment to socially relevant storytelling. Additionally, he was honored to be one of ten Saudi directors chosen by the Saudi government to represent the nation at prestigious events such as Paramount Pictures, Ace Theater, and the Cannes Film Festival, marking significant milestones in his burgeoning career.