Canon Middle East expands partnership with Emirati filmmaker Nayla Al Khaja
Canon Middle East has strengthened its collaboration with Emirati filmmaker Nayla Al Khaja, the UAE's first woman film producer and director. Announced in conjunction with International Women's Day 2025, this partnership aligns with the event's theme, Accelerate Action, underscoring Canon's dedication to advancing gender equality in visual storytelling.
Building on a successful relationship that began in 2011, the renewed partnership continues to support Al Khaja's work while promoting greater representation of women in creative industries. Canon remains committed to fostering opportunities for female storytellers to make their mark in the region's evolving film landscape.
Speaking about the partnership, Venkatasubramanian (Subbu) Hariharan, Managing Director, Canon Middle East and Türkiye said: 'Our partnership with Nayla Al Khaja represents the shared values that drive both her work and Canon's vision. Together, we've witnessed how powerful technology in the right creative hands can transform storytelling and inspire communities. Coinciding with International Women's Day 2025, we are reinforcing our commitment to accelerate positive change and create more pathways for women in film and content creation.'
As part of this initiative, Canon and Al Khaja will launch a series of programmes designed to inspire emerging filmmakers. She will participate in Canon-hosted events throughout the year, offering insights into the industry and demonstrating how filmmakers can harness Canon's cinema technology to bring their creative visions to life.
The celebrated filmmaker will also create an educational series for Canon's 'See No Limits' campaign, drawing on her extensive experience with Canon's cinema cameras to provide unique insights into professional filmmaking techniques.
Al Khaja added: 'Working with Canon has been a cornerstone of my creative journey. This partnership has provided me not just with exceptional tools but also with a platform to amplify voices and stories that might otherwise go unheard. In an industry where women remain underrepresented, especially in technical and directorial roles, having the backing of a global leader like Canon sends a powerful message about the value of diverse perspectives in visual storytelling.'
Throughout her career, Al Khaja has been a strong advocate for emerging filmmakers in the region. She has directed 16 short films, including Animal and The Shadow, both currently streaming on Netflix. The Shadow served as a precursor to her debut feature film, THREE, which premiered in UAE cinemas last year and brought international recognition to Emirati cinema. Most recently, she completed production on her latest feature, BAAB, in February 2025. The film features an acclaimed creative team, including Academy Award-winning composer A.R. Rahman and cinematographer Rogier Stoffers (ASC), known for The Kissing Booth and Quills. Behind-the-scenes footage was captured using a variety of Canon cameras, ensuring a cinematic and immersive visual experience.
In this next phase of collaboration, Al Khaja will work with the Canon EOS R5 Mark II, an advanced filmmaking tool combining compact size with high performance. Featuring a 45-megapixel stacked sensor and 8K 60p RAW video recording, the camera pairs with Canon's RF series lenses, which provide exceptional optics, fast autofocus, and advanced stabilisation features—key components for dynamic filmmaking.
Over the coming months, Canon and Al Khaja will unveil a series of projects that showcase her creative vision, powered by Canon technology. These initiatives aim to inspire new talent across the region, with a strong emphasis on encouraging women to pursue careers in film and visual storytelling
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