Emirati Filmmaker Nayla Al Khaja Shatters Stereotypes, From Netflix To World Cinemas

During the Xposure International Photography Film Festival in Sharjah, Nayla Al Khaja, a pioneering filmmaker from the UAE, shared her journey from facing rejections to making films for Netflix and cinemas worldwide. Her debut feature film, "Three," was released across the Gulf and major MENA territories in February 2024, showcasing in 120 theatres across 7 countries, in both English and Arabic. Al Khaja's career has been marked by overcoming initial hurdles and achieving recognition and success despite numerous rejections.

Al Khaja currently has two short films streaming on Netflix: "The Shadow" and "Animal." Her next project, "Baab," a fantasy realism horror scheduled for shooting in 2024, will feature a musical score by two-time Oscar-winning Indian music director A R Rahman. The filmmaker, who prefers psychological thrillers over rom-coms, grew up watching films in various languages, which influenced her unique storytelling style.

The director also discussed the challenges she faced due to generational gaps and societal expectations. She emphasized the importance of resilience, patience, and action in overcoming obstacles. Al Khaja's process involves breaking through barriers and emerging stronger with each setback.

"Three" was shot in Thailand due to financial considerations and faced delays due to COVID lockdowns and Al Khaja's pregnancy. Despite initial snubs, her short film "Animal" was eventually picked up by Netflix six years later. The feature film "Three" also marks a first in Arab cinema by using artificial intelligence to study actors' voices for a Mandarin release.

Al Khaja praised the acting talent in Sharjah, including Jefferson Hall of Oppenheimer fame, who was impressed by the skills of the child actor-protagonist in "Three." She expressed her desire to showcase Dubai's rapid development through her films and was thrilled to see film included as a component of Xposure 2024.

The Xposure International Photography Film Festival concluded on March 5, bringing together 400 photographers under one roof. Al Khaja's participation highlighted the intersection of photography and film, underscoring the festival's role in celebrating visual storytelling.

With inputs from WAM