Saudi sisters Raneem and Dana Almohandes are emerging filmmakers making significant contributions to the Saudi Arabian film industry, particularly in the musical genre. Raneem holds a Master of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre Writing from New York University, while Dana is studying Filmmaking and Animation at Princess Nourah Bint Abdul Rahman University in Riyadh.
Their collaborative journey began with the musical short film "A Swing" in 2022, which was selected for the official competition at the Saudi Film Festival and showcased as part of Saudi Arabia's participation at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022. The film was later acquired by Netflix, marking a significant milestone in their careers.
In 2024, the sisters released "A Mosquito," an animated musical short set in 1969 AlUla, Saudi Arabia. The film follows Zozo, a mosquito with aspirations of becoming a singer as renowned as Umm Kulthum. "A Mosquito" was featured at the Red Sea International Film Festival, further establishing their presence in the regional film scene.
Their creative process is deeply collaborative, often described as having a sense of "telepathy," allowing them to work seamlessly together. They draw inspiration from their cultural heritage and personal experiences, aiming to create content that resonates with both local and international audiences.
Their work reflects a blend of traditional Saudi culture with contemporary storytelling techniques, contributing to the evolving landscape of Saudi Arabian cinema.