Biography

Ahd is an actress, filmmaker from Saudi Arabia. She is most well known for her starring role in 2012's high profile festival favorite, critical darling and BAFTA nominee, 'Wadjda', which is Saudi Arabia's first feature film. The fluently English-speaking, American educated, multi-lingual Saudi Arabian native launched her film career in 2005 with a string of internationally successful short films; all three which have won prestigious festival awards. Ahd moved to New York City in 1998 to study Law at Columbia University, then completed her BFA in Animation & Communication from Parsons School of Design, after which, she further diversified her education, obtaining a Directing degree from the New York Film Academy. Still not satiated, Ahd then went on to study Acting under the personal tutelage of William Esper at the Esper Studio. Her first lead role earned her the Golden Gate Award for Best Actress at the San Francisco International Film Festival. 'La Sainteté', her 2nd directorial short, in which she also starred, received a Golden Bear nomination at the Berlinale in 2013 and won the Golden Aleph in Beirut International Film Festival, 2013. Her move into the world of English language features began with a position as technical advisor on 'Peter Berg"s 'The Kingdom'. Ahd was presented with a Cloeween Connection Award from 'Spike Lee', by the Abu Dhabi Authority of Culture and Heritage as an emerging Arab filmmaker. Ahd is a certified 300 hr Jivamukti yoga teacher.