Saudi screenwriter Mashael Alqahtani is quickly emerging as a powerful new voice in global cinema. Her latest work, the short film Two Sisters, has already captivated audiences on the international festival circuit and signals the arrival of a bold storyteller unafraid to blend raw emotion with biting social observation.
Co-written with director and brother Waleed Alqahtani, Two Sisters dives into the unraveling psyche of Nour, a failed actress forced by her sister to quit smoking. The film follows her through a lavish birthday party she never wanted, spiraling between comedy and tragedy as she hunts desperately for a cigarette to calm her nerves.
Festival journey
The short has screened at major showcases worldwide, including:
Brooklyn Film Festival (2025)
Saudi Film Festival (2025)
NewFilmmakers LA (2024)
Red Sea Film Festival (2024)
Each selection underscores the film’s resonance across borders, celebrating a story rooted in Saudi culture while universally relatable in its exploration of family, addiction, and identity.
Breaking barriers in screenwriting
Mashael’s work with Two Sisters is just one chapter of her rising career. She was recently named a 2025 Screamwriting Fellow, a prestigious program backed by Blumhouse, Sundance, and K Period Media, designed to elevate underrepresented voices in genre storytelling. Read more on Deadline.
Mashael Alqahtani was selected as a 2025 Screamwriting Fellow, a distinguished program supported by Blumhouse, Sundance, and K Period Media, designed to discover and mentor promising voices in horror, thriller, and genre writing. Through this fellowship, she joins a curated cohort of emerging storytellers who receive tailored guidance, industry access, and development opportunities aimed at elevating their scripts and advancing their careers. Her inclusion in this initiative underscores her potential to push narrative boundaries and contribute boldly to global genre cinema.
This recognition positions her within an elite cohort of writers reshaping the boundaries of horror, thriller, and psychological storytelling.
With Two Sisters gaining traction on the festival circuit and her fellowship opening new doors, Mashael Alqahtani is charting a path that blends her Saudi heritage with global storytelling sensibilities. Her sharp, character-driven narratives promise to bring fresh perspectives to both independent cinema and larger industry stages.
Film Daily will be following closely as she develops her next projects.
