Danya Alhamrani

Danya M. Alhamrani (born c. 1975) is an American-Saudi television director and producer. Alhamrani, along with her partner Dania Nassief, were the first women in Saudi Arabia to receive permission to own and manage a production company without a male business partner.

Early life and education

Alhamrani was born in Bismarck, North Dakota, and raised in Bismarck and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. She has an MA in TV and Film Production from San Diego State University.[1]

Career

Alhamrani worked on the Emmy Award winning television series The Short List.[2]

In 2006 Alhamrani and her business partner Dania Nassief were the first women in Saudi Arabia to receive permission to own and manage a production company, Eggdancer Productions, without a male general manager.[3][4][5]

In 2008 she starred along with Anthony Bourdain in an episode of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations featuring Jeddah.[4][6][5][7]

Alhamrani produced a 2002 short-form documentary in 2002 that explored non-Muslims following a Ramadan fast.[1] She also produced The Straight Path, a film about a Saudi college student navigating work and religious obligations.[1]

With Eggdancer Alhamrani produced a long-form documentary Rise: The Journey of Women in Saudi Arabia which details the evolution of the empowerment of women in the country starting with the 1950s when women first started receiving educations.[7] The company also produced a pilot, Kalam Kabeer, which featured high school and college students discussing social issues.[1] It produced a 2008 IMAX film, Journey to Mecca, about the Haj.[1][2] In 2009 it produced a 30-episode television series, Akla wa Hikaya, exploring Saudi Arabian culture and traditional cuisine.[2] It produced a 2018 documentary, A Silent Revolution:The Journey of Women in Saudi Arabia, which featured 25 Saudi women who pioneered women's rights in the country, including the first Saudi women Olympic athletes, the first national newspaper publisher, and other female leaders.[8][9]

Personal life

Alhamrani is married.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Mokhtar, Hassna’a (25 June 2008). "2 women, one company — and Kingdom to film". Arab News. Archived from the original on 2 January 2009. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
  2. ^ a b c Cherian, Vijaya (2009-09-09). "Female producers carve niche in Saudi Arabia - Digital Studio Middle East". Digital Studio Middle East. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
  3. ^ Teuteberg, Amy (July 15, 2008). "Under the Abbaya: Female Producers in Saudi Arabia". Travel Channel. Archived from the original on April 21, 2009. Retrieved May 14, 2009.
  4. ^ a b Alhamrani, Danya M. (September 16, 2008). "Female film company unveils Saudi Arabia". Partners in Humanity. Common Ground News Service. Archived from the original on December 22, 2010. Retrieved May 14, 2009.
  5. ^ a b "Eggdancer Productions". Loaded Bow. Loaded Bow. October 10, 2008. Archived from the original on February 13, 2009. Retrieved May 14, 2009.
  6. ^ Margaret (July 22, 2008). "Cultural Understanding Goes Down Better With French Fries, Chicken Nuggets". Jezebel. Archived from the original on December 4, 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2009.
  7. ^ a b Hanania, Ray (2022-09-01). "Rise of Saudi women filmmakers shatters gender stereotyping". Arab News. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
  8. ^ Grenie, Elizabeth (2018-03-07). "Documentary: "A Silent Revolution": Pioneering Saudi women | Qantara.de". Qantara.de. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
  9. ^ "PepsiCo boosts women empowerment in Saudi Arabia with the launch of Tamakani". Zawya. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
  10. ^ "No Reservations: Saudi Arabia". Travel Channel. Retrieved 2024-09-11.