This past February, New York Film Academy graduate, Jameelah Rose del Prado Lineses was honored at the 6th Ani Ng Dangal (Presidential Award) at the Resorts World Manila. Her film, Will You Marry Me?, was her quarter film during her filmmaking conservatory studies at NYFA. The short film contains no dialogue and literally follows a girl who is walking around on an ordinary day while someone follows a few steps back. What begins with a tone of mystery eventually turns into an unexpected twist and an overall change in mood.
“Creating a film takes a lot of effort and perseverance on our part, as filmmakers,” says Jameelah. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a blockbuster-Hollywood-type of movie, an indie film, or a simple short film. We are taught in the classroom that once you start making films, you are already a filmmaker.”
After graduating from New York Film Academy’s Filmmaking Conservatory Program two years ago, Jameelah applied for the OPT (Optional Practical Training). From there, she was able to work with a few production internships and volunteer programs such as the International Film Festival Manhattan (IFFM). She was a Technical Director (Video and Photo Team), Official Photographer and Videographer, Operations and Coordinator. Following the internship, she worked with the Kababayan media.
After that, Jameelah returned to Jeddah with her family and worked for Silvergrey Pictures and Sound: one of the largest production companies in Saudi Arabia. Silvergrey hired and assigned her to work on STV1 and 2 (Saudi TV1 and 2) Saudi Cultural Commercial, which was a collaboration project with the French crew from an affiliated company in Paris.
Jameelah also worked as a Line Producer under Speedtrack (one of the sister companies of Silvergrey Pictures and Sound). It should be noted that Jameelah is one of only a few female filmmakers coming from Saudi Arabia.
She is currently communicating with production companies in Jeddah to coordinate a film collaboration project with the International Film Festival Manhattan where Jameelah had previously been awarded the Film Festival Director Award for Best Student Film. This brand new event would be the first film festival of its kind that would take place in the Kingdom.