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3. ‘Malika’ and ‘The Last Dismissal:’ Of Swords, Stars, Sisterhood and Rewritten Fairy Tales

Producer Farah Jouni brings two powerful short films to international acclaim. Malika, a fantasy drama directed by Maram Taibah, explores dreams and women’s empowerment, having earned nominations at top festivals including the Toronto Arab Film Festival, the Red Sea International Film Festival, and the Chelsea Film Festival. The Last Dismissal, directed by Jawaher Alamri, confronts grief through the eyes of a teenager and has won major awards, including the Special Jury Award at Cairo and Best Director at Hollywood ShortsFest. Farah Jouni shares her insights about these two striking films.

Produced by Farah Jouni, Malika is a bold cinematic journey that redefines Saudi storytelling. This fantasy short film, directed by Saudi filmmaker Maram Taibah, is a heartfelt exploration of identity, empowerment and family. As a recipient of the AlUla Creates Film Programme, the film has gained international recognition for its compelling narrative and artistic depth.

Malika has recently been nominated for the Toronto Arab Film Festival. Also nominated for Best Short Film at the Red Sea International Film Festival, the Saudi Film Festival and the Chelsea International Film Festival in NYC, Malika has captivated audiences and critics alike.

Jouni also served as development producer on another short film, The Last Dismissal. Written and directed by Jawaher Alamri, the film tackles the story of a teenager who must come to terms with her grief after the passing of her best friend, and is forced to attend a lecture on shrouding the dead at her middle school. The film has garnered notable recognition, winning the Special Jury Award at the Cairo International Film Festival. It also received accolades at the Hollywood ShortsFest, where it was honored with the awards for Best Director and Best Actress. Moreover, it earned nominations for the Youssef Chahine Award for Best Short Film and for Best Short Film at the 11^th edition of the Saudi Film Festival.

These short films are, in many ways, fairy tales for grown-ups. They echo stories like Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White and Alice in Wonderland – but the themes speak to the evolving consciousness of an adult woman. She learns that strength can lie in a glance, that she must wield her own sword, and claim the right to place the crown on her own head – whether it sparkles or dissolves into white smoke. Even when death lies at the end of the path, memory remains. And from grief, one can still summon the courage and strength to honor what’s been lost. Conformity can be challenged, and a single voice can pierce the screen and be heard.

Both films are striking not only for their tightly woven plots and gripping suspense, but also for their use of color – vivid in Malika, muted in The Last Dismissal. In both, white recurs like a quiet anthem to death. Blending realism with fantasy, these films carry the raw truth of documentary storytelling in their chosen words and revealed wounds, while also capturing the enchantment of dreams, friendship, feminine power and childhood. These are vastly different themes, yet each is portrayed with striking clarity. The result is a cinematic journey that lifts you into a magical realm. You follow it, searching for the stars.

Q&A with Producer Farah Jouni

Why do these movies tackle childhood and women’s empowerment?

It was never intentional – I simply responded to the talent and the themes. The Last Dismissal documents an important era that deserves validation, especially for those of us who grew up in it and are now stepping into an exciting present with vigor and heading toward a very promising future.

As for Malika, I must say it was more strategic. Maram is a true and unique voice in fantasy. As Arabs, we have centuries of oral storytelling, folklore and generational trauma, yet we’ve never defined our own fantasy framework. Partnering with Maram Taibah and Film AlUla’s “AlUla Creates” initiative gave us an opportunity to create an IP that has the potential to evolve into a franchise – with its rich worlds, we’re now developing a feature based on the world of Malika.

What do you think is a common ground between Malika and The Last Dismissal? Which message would you personally like to convey?

The common ground is the inner world of the child – that raw, deeply emotional place where the need to be heard, seen and understood lives. In both films, the protagonists are navigating a world that doesn’t fully recognize them, whether it's Aljadi, who is misunderstood and discarded, or Salma, who fights for control over her destiny. At the heart of both stories is the unfiltered inner world of the child – the place where truth, fear, strength and imagination all live at once.

What inspires you as a film producer?

I’m inspired by raw, emerging talent. As a producer, I’m constantly seeking out new voices – people who are willing to explore their inner world and articulate it through art with truth, authenticity and vulnerability. My role is to give them the environment and support to do that. That’s when the magic happens.