Listen Live
Donate
 on air
Schedule

KCRW

Read & Explore

  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Food
  • Culture
  • Events

Listen

  • Live Radio
  • Music
  • Podcasts
  • Full Schedule

Information

  • About
  • Careers
  • Help / FAQ
  • Newsletters
  • Contact

Support

  • Become a Member
  • Become a VIP
  • Ways to Give
  • Shop
  • Member Perks

Become a Member

Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

DonateGive Monthly

Copyright 2025 KCRW. All rights reserved.

Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
Cookie Policy
|FCC Public Files

Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Saudi Arabia's first female filmmaker on 'Mary Shelley'

In Saudi Arabia, women aren’t allowed to make major decisions alone. They can’t sign contracts or book travel. They must be covered in public. So imagine trying to direct movies.

  • rss
Download MP3
  • Share
By Madeleine Brand • May 30, 2018 • 47m Listen

In Saudi Arabia, women aren’t allowed to make major decisions alone. They can’t sign contracts or book travel. They must be covered in public. So imagine trying to direct movies. Haifaa Al-Mansour’s “Wadjda” was Saudi Arabia’s first submission for an Oscar. Her latest film is “Mary Shelley,” a biopic of the “Frankenstein” author.

Image of filmmaker Haifaa Al-Mansour at KCRW by Amy Ta.

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Madeleine Brand

    Host, 'Press Play'

  • KCRW placeholder

    Sarah Sweeney

    Vice President of Talk Programming, KCRW

  • KCRW placeholder

    Michell Eloy

    Line Editor, Press Play

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Amy Ta

    Digital News & Culture Editor

    News
Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand