Learning Where Films Are Made: AFA at Al Hisn Big Time Studios

A central principle behind Ajyal Film Academy is that film students should learn in an environment that feels connected to the real industry from day one. That is why AFA’s flagship Riyadh delivery location is Al Hisn Big Time Studios.

Rather than separating classroom learning from professional practice, the Academy’s model is built around studio-based education, production exercises, equipment use, crew collaboration, editing and post-production, and exposure to the workflows students will encounter after graduation.

AFA’s work with SELA and GEA also creates a wider ecosystem around professional development and workforce training. In addition to student programs, the Academy is developing customized training for working professionals and large institutional cohorts across the creative industries.

The result is an industry-embedded model: students learn the language of filmmaking, but they also learn how sets operate, how productions are organized, how teams collaborate, and how creative ideas move from script to screen.

For AFA, the goal is not simply to teach film. It is to help build the next generation of Saudi filmmakers, technicians, producers, writers and creative leaders.