Telfaz11

Telfaz11 is a creative media studio headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that has been a significant force in the country's entertainment landscape since its establishment in 2011. The company was founded by Alaa Yousef Fadan, Ali Al Kalthami, and Ibrahim Al Khairallah, who identified a gap in content that spoke to the Saudi youth. The name itself is a nod to this new era, combining the Arabic word for television, "telfaz," with "11" to commemorate the year they believe marked a new age of creative expression in the Arab world.

The founders' backgrounds complemented each other to build the company. Fadan, the CEO, laid the groundwork for the region's short-form video industry. Al Kalthami, the Chief Creative Officer, brought his experience from MBC Group and a passion for authentic storytelling. Al Khairallah, a popular comedian and actor, understood how to engage and captivate audiences, having been a pioneer in Saudi's stand-up comedy scene. They began by producing short videos and satirical comedy clips for YouTube, quickly gaining a massive following with viral hits like "No Woman, No Drive" and popular series such as "Khambalah" and "Alkhallat". This early work, rooted in local culture and humor, resonated strongly with a generation seeking content that reflected their own experiences.

Initially bootstrapped, Telfaz11 secured its first external funding in 2018 with a $9 million Series A round led by Saudi Technology Ventures (STV) and joined by VentureSouq. This capital was earmarked for capacity building, content monetization, and regional expansion, including opening an office in Dubai to build relationships with agencies and brands. The company's business model encompasses digital content creation, client-led commercial productions for brands like STC, Uber, and Ikea, and a strategic move into premium long-form content, including series and feature films. This evolution was significantly boosted by the lifting of Saudi Arabia's 35-year cinema ban in 2017, a development that transformed the industry from a hobby into a profession and opened new opportunities for Telfaz11.

A pivotal moment in the company's trajectory was the multi-picture deal signed with Netflix in 2020 to produce eight feature films, following a successful initial collaboration on the short film collection "Six Windows In The Desert". This partnership validated Telfaz11's success and signaled the growing global interest in Saudi stories. The studio's films, such as "Sattar," which became the highest-grossing Saudi film in history, and the Netflix original "AlKhallat+," demonstrate its ability to produce content with both local relevance and universal appeal. Telfaz11 operates multiple production slates: one for the local box office, another for streaming video on demand (SVOD) platforms, and an international slate for films aimed at global film festivals. Further cementing its production capabilities, Telfaz11 acquired indie production house Last Scene Films in 2021 and forged a partnership with the media hub Neom to create up to nine TV and film projects.

Keywords: Saudi media production, film studio, content creation, YouTube creators, Arabic entertainment, Riyadh, Alaa Yousef Fadan, Ali Al Kalthami, Ibrahim Al Khairallah, Netflix partnership, Saudi cinema, digital media, Khambalah, Alkhallat, Sattar movie, Middle East content, Saudi Vision 2030, Arab filmmakers, creative economy, entertainment industry, venture capital, STV, Six Windows in the Desert, Mandoob, Naga