Storytelling: A Common Thread of Humanity | Fatima Al-Banawi 160

A Saudi storyteller, actor, writer, and director whose work blends art with social impact, Fatima is the founder of Alf Wad Production House and The Other Story Project, initiatives that have transformed storytelling into a tool for cultural dialogue and community building. Her breakout role in Barakah Meets Barakah (2016), Saudi’s submission to the Oscars, helped shape the country’s new cinematic wave. Named a “Next Generation Leader” by Time Magazine and described as the “Sophie Calle of Saudi Arabia” by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Fatima has become one of the most recognized creative voices from the Kingdom. She holds a Master’s degree from Harvard University, where she researched Arab identity and gender representation in cinema and literature. 0:00 Intro 2:34 Childhood & Background 6:47 Control, Messiness & Acceptance 13:00 Parents, Resentment & Empathy 22:03 Imposter Syndrome 35:13 Barakah & Public Reaction 41:50 Writing/Directing vs Acting 45:30 Owning the Narrative 55:04 Saudi Film Ecosystem Grows 59:34 “The Other Story” 1:11:24 Globalization & Cinema 1:19:32 Alwad: A Thousand Valleys to the Heart 1:23:22 Red Sea Festival & Market Maturity 1:34:44 Mental Health, Phones & Finding Balance 1:40:31 Women, Theology & Harvard 1:49:58 “Carve What Isn’t There” 1:52:56 Ignoring Bad Advice 1:55:29 Feeling Most Alive 1:58:32 Dreams, Manifestation & Mortality 2:06:13 Closing Fatima Albanawi Instagram https://bit.ly/4mC4nP1 LinkedIn https://bit.ly/3IBI5iE Wikipedia https://bit.ly/4nNGdCi Website https://bit.ly/3IA3IQm The Mo Show Youtube https://bit.ly/3nDwsZv Apple Podcast https://apple.co/3J9ScX4 Spotify https://spoti.fi/33dzsC2 Anghami https://bit.ly/3mRo1uy Instagram https://bit.ly/2KAwq5v X https://bit.ly/3KanEnJ TikTok https://bit.ly/43L92po Website https://bit.ly/3H2DhMM Email [email protected] Saudia Website https://bit.ly/495n6fB Instagram https://bit.ly/3UgTTdA X https://bit.ly/4beIQY8 Noon Instagram https://bit.ly/3XRScUY Website https://bit.ly/44lnA1S Eight Sleep https://www.eightsleep.com/sa/themoshow/ IWC Instagram https://bit.ly/44dxbFW Website https://bit.ly/43K8JMk Brew 92 Instagram http://bit.ly/3VN6MeI LinkedIn https://bit.ly/42kN65E Website https://bit.ly/4grbAjK Credits Fatima Albanawi | Guest Mo Islam | Host Founder Ryan Ismail | COO Gregoris Kalai | Head of Strategy Tito | Creative Director Youssef Hamieh | Head of Production Waleed Kanjo | Show Manager Powered by "STUCK?" | Translation The Mo Show Theme Song by Saud Al-Turki