Fatima Al-Banawi is a Saudi actress, director, and writer who has made a significant impact in the film and television industry. Born in a generation of burgeoning Saudi talents, she has been able to navigate the challenges of her conservative community and the international industry.
In 2018, Saudi Arabia lifted its 35-year ban on cinemas, and Al-Banawi's career took off. She has since starred in successful serial dramas on Netflix and Shahid, as well as several Saudi features that have been selected at international festivals and film events.
One of her most notable roles was in the 2016 film "Barakah Meets Barakah," which was the first Saudi feature to compete at the Berlin International Film Festival and was Saudi Arabia's official submission to the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Film.
Al-Banawi has also worked on several other projects, including the Saudi Arabian series "Bashar" in 2017, the film "Roll'em" in 2019, and the Shahid original series "Al-Shak" in 2020, which she co-wrote, co-directed, and starred in.
In addition to her acting work, Al-Banawi is also a talented director. Her first short film "Until We See Light" opened the Horizons of Arab Cinema Competition at the 43rd Cairo International Film Festival and was supported by the Red Sea International Film Festival.
Al-Banawi has also been recognized for her work as a brand ambassador for Cartier International SNC in the Middle East and has been part of the fashion giant's advertising campaign for its latest high jewelry collection Sixéme Sens.
She has also been selected as a member of Saudi Arabia's first professional association for theater and performing arts and has directed several social and dramatic theatrical shows, including "The Straight Circle," which was implemented in a street theater format.
Al-Banawi's most recent work includes the film "Alhamour H.A.," which was released in cinemas earlier this year. She is also currently working on Faris Godus' latest film "Ahlam El-Asr" and her first Egyptian film, "El Amel Sefer," which stars Akram Hosny and is being directed by Karim El-Adl.
In 2023, Al-Banawi made an appearance in the Panthère de Cartier event that was held in Dubai and was named by Vanity Fair one of the six most influential women in the Middle East during a gala dinner hosted by the Red Sea International Film Festival at the 76th Cannes Film Festival.
She was also featured in Estee Lauder's Together We Shine Campaign for Ramadan 2023 and hosted both TV5 Monde's Alula Under the Stars concert in Saudi Arabia and the official reception of the candidacy file for Riyadh Expo 2030 in Paris.
Al-Banawi has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Effat University in Jeddah and an MA in Social Studies from Harvard University with a focus on representing women and the Arab identity in cinema and literature.
She has also authored the book "The Other Story," which is based on 5,000 on-the-go personal stories by anonymous people from Jeddah. The book was released between the 2022-2023 cycle of the Riyadh International Book Fair, Jeddah Book Fair, Al Sharqa Book Fair, and Cairo Book Fair.
