Saudi Arabia is currently undergoing profound social change, following the gradual lifting of restrictions since late 2010. The film “Dancing on Fire”, which is currently in development, directed by Hana Al-Omair and produced by Soha Samir, who are co-writers, highlights the joy and freedom of women in societies Tribalism in Saudi Arabia before oil.
“I was immediately drawn to the story, the moment I learned that Saudi women danced and sang with men in public in the 1920s, because it is rooted in Saudi culture,” says Al-Omair.
The project won the MBC Academy / Shahid Award of $75,000, in exchange for obtaining distribution rights in the Arab region, during the Red Sea Market Awards Ceremony.
Zainab Abul Samh, General Manager of MBC Studios-KSA, commented: “Dancing on Fire” is a film with a distinctive Saudi story that reflects a strong and authentic female vision. It is a movie that could not have been made at a better time. We need more stories women tell about women. It’s a powerful story of empowerment that I think the whole world will connect with.”
Hana Al-Omair and Soha Samir (Courtesy of Hana Al-Omair, Soha Samir)
Sameer says she remembers how her life changed suddenly in the 1980s, when she was a little girl growing up in Saudi Arabia, with face and body coverings imposed and her rights drastically curtailed. She sees the project as a way to come to terms with this painful period in her life, not by making a political film, but as a celebration of life.
“I think this project will help Saudi women today realize that many of the new rights and powers are actually about restoring the personal freedoms that we had in the past.”
This project is based on the best-selling novel Desert Divers by Saudi novelist Amal Al Farran.
It is one of six Saudi projects that participated in the 10-month Red Sea Lodge residency programme, organized in cooperation with TorinoFilmLab.
Al-Omair co-directed and co-directed the first Saudi Netflix original series, Whispers – an eight-episode film about a family facing the death of the head of the family. The series was launched with a heavy promotional campaign and Al-Omair says it has received positive feedback from viewers around the world.
She also directed episodes for popular Saudi TV shows such as “Without a Filter” for SBC in 2018, and the dark comedy series “Lockdown” for MBC in 2021.
Al-Omair works at MBC, where she manages the content development team that creates and works on original Saudi programmes. She is developing a feature film and a TV series, and is also the president of the new Saudi Cinema Association, established in 2021, which organizes the Saudi Film Festival.
“There are more and more women working in the industry,” she says. “The director ratio isn’t halved yet, but we’re making it happen across the industry — above the line and below the line.”
Samir is a content developer for TV networks in Egypt, where she also produces TV shows and series. She has written, directed and produced two short films – ‘Flaming Red’ and ‘Photoshop’ – which have enjoyed success on the festival circuit.
Al-Omair previously participated in the Red Sea Inn, in its first edition in 2019, before the establishment of the Red Sea Festival, as part of the Grand Prize-winning “Sharshaf” project team.
Sameer says the experience of attending the 10-month “Dancing on Fire” lodge program has been amazing. “We came up with a whole script. They ripped it up. We started from scratch. They said ‘what do you find most passionate then focus on that’. The first version was also about war between tribes. Now we’ve focused on the women’s story.”
The film takes place in a green valley known as the Wadi. “It’s a very ancient place, with a very rich culture, in terms of music, songs and certain rituals,” Samir says. “It is in the middle of Saudi Arabia. It has always been a stopping place for caravans and merchants. There are items from different cultures. People used to dive for pearls in the waters. You have cultivation and palm trees.”
Al-Omair says she is delighted with this award from MBC Studio. “It’s a very exciting time in Saudi Arabia right now. We’ve been dreaming about this for many years. Now we’re seeing our dreams come true. There’s a lot of support, in terms of funding, festivals and workshops. There’s still a lot to do. We don’t have Well-established industry so far. In a few years, the landscape will be very different.”
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