This renowned Saudi actress, writer, and director is the founder of Alf Wad Production House and the author of The Other Story Book. AlBanawi gained recognition for her role in Saudi Arabia’s Oscar submission, Barakah Meets Barakah, bringing one of the earliest Saudi tales to the big screen in 2016, at a time where cinemas were nonexistent in the country. She continues to make waves in the film industry today with diverse roles in notable films such as Fever Dream, Saudi’s first three-hour multi-genre film, and AlHamour H. M., the record-breaking first Saudi heist movie based on a true story, now available on Netflix.
AlBanawi has showcased her talent across various genres and accents, including Egyptian comedy (Agent Zero – Shahid), road-trip thriller (Route 10 – Netflix), family drama (Champions – Shahid), psychological drama (60 Minutes – Shahid), MENA region’s first Netflix Original series (Paranormal – Netflix), and psychological thriller mini-series (AlShak – Shahid), which she cowrote, co-directed, starred in, and filmed from her own home during the global lockdown.
From renowned international film festivals in Berlin, Toronto, and Florence, to the Institut du Monde Arabe’s very own Festival Des Cinemas Arabes in 2018, and from the 5th round of the Saudi Film Festival in 2019, to the 11th Malmo Arab Film Festival, and the 43rd Cairo International Film Festival, her attendance and role as a jury member have come to inform her screenwriting practice and directorial vision, and infuse them with intimacy and originality. With a Bachelor’s in Counseling Psychology and a Master’s in Social and Religious Studies from Harvard University, AlBanawi is celebrated for her vulnerable and original touch, which is equally evident in her writing and directing today. This psychological depth is showcased in her Netflix Original, Basma, her debut feature film released on the global platform in June 2024.
Selected by Time magazine for the “Next Generation Leaders List,” for her storytelling ventures, AlBanawi is an active member of Saudi Arabia’s Association for Theatre and Performing Arts and has served as a brand ambassador for Cartier in the Middle East.
