Fe-Male launches the first of its kind online directory for women in films in Mashreq and Maghreb region

On April 9, 2019, together with UNESCO, and the European Union, and in partnership with UN Women, Abi Rafraf Association, MENA Media Monitoring, Sweden Sverige and SUD Ecriture, Fe-Male and Dawaer Foundation launched Arab Women in Films online directory on their different social media platforms, namely Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (www.arabwomeninfilms.media).
The directory is hard work’s product that falls within a project that aimed at promoting a non-stereotypical female representation in films and advocating for gender equality and freedom of expression in the film sector in the Mashreq and Maghreb region. The directory aimed to establish a data base that would act as a platform and a tool to connect professional females with the media and make sure they have the same opportunities as male professionals, promote their profiles and work among the public, and enhance the opportunities for mentorship and exchange of experiences among females in the film industry. The directory, which now includes the profiles of more than 190 female professional in the film-making industry representing more than 9 countries in the region, was launched with the hashtag #نساء_يصنعن_الصورة Arabic for Women Creating the Image .
Following the launching, several video-graphs and video-messages from women working in the field were shared on social media to sensitize the public about the topic and to encourage other women to register in the directory. This campaign was able to reach almost 1.5 million people in less than a year, on the organizers’ Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter channels.
The online directory was also promoted through regional focus group discussion conducted in 7 countries and targeting CSOs, media, women in film industry, experts, activists… Later, the directory was presented and promoted also during a regional conference organized by Fe-Male in Beirut, with the attendance of more than 100 people. This directory will continue to be a platform where women working in audio-visual sector can register their profiles and benefit from different opportunities provided by the directory and Fe-Male.