AUS alumnae-led film selected for Red Sea International Film Festival with Netflix-backed support

A short film led by American University of Sharjah (AUS) alumnae has been selected for the Red Sea International Film Festival, marking a significant achievement for a new generation of AUS graduates working in film and visual storytelling.

No Land in Sight was written and directed by Eiman Alkhalifa, a College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD) multimedia design alumna, and produced by Zainab Abdelaziz, an AUS visual communication alumna. The film tells the story of how, as instability closes in on Sudan, a mother clings to a fragile phone call from her son, whose distant voice becomes her only connection to hope and an uncertain future.

Alkhalifa developed the project and later brought Abdelaziz on board as producer before applying to the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture’s (AFAC) Women in Film: Bring Your Story to Life program, delivered in collaboration with Netflix. The five-month program provided both mentorship and funding, supporting the project from early development through post-production. As part of the program’s requirements, the film’s core creative team had to be composed entirely of women.

"As someone who grew up in the UAE and struggled for years to get an opportunity to get into the film world, getting selected for the AFAC x Netflix: Women in Film program has given me motivation to keep going and to be part of the pioneers who are pushing cinema in the country. Good change is happening, and I would like to deeply thank the AFAC and Netflix teams for the constant support and push for stories from this region by people from the region," said Alkhalifa.

The project brings together an AUS alumni creative team whose academic backgrounds span multiple disciplines. In addition to Alkhalifa and Abdelaziz, the film’s original music was composed by Hamza Al Salim, an AUS civil engineering graduate. This collaboration reflects the strengths of AUS’ American-style liberal arts education, where students are encouraged to develop creative skills alongside technical and analytical training, enabling graduates to move fluidly between fields and contribute meaningfully to creative projects beyond the boundaries of their degree programs.

“I feel extremely grateful to have worked with Eiman on No Land in Sight, and fortunate to have had the learning opportunity in film production provided by AFAC and Netflix. They were extremely supportive throughout the entire program, and I'm honored that my first production was with an all-female core crew—thanks again to AFAC. I sincerely believe that with interest and perseverance, you can definitely achieve your dreams and goals, regardless of your education or background,” said Abdelaziz.

Selected as part of the Red Sea International Film Festival’s official program, No Land in Sight has been introduced to regional and international audiences, positioning its creators among a growing group of Arab filmmakers using cinema to explore important social and humanitarian themes.

Building on this momentum, Alkhalifa was recently selected to take part in a Talent Development Programme launched by the Dubai Films and Games Commission, delivered in collaboration with the UK’s National Film and Television School, Amazon MGM Studios’ and Prime Video. The week-long program brought together emerging local writers and producers for intensive masterclasses, workshops, mentoring and guest speakers, and supported local writers and producers to develop original ideas for television series, which were then pitched to Amazon executives.

The film trailer of No Land in Sight can be viewed here.

For more information about film, art or design programs at CAAD, visit www.aus.edu/caad/department-of-art-and-design.