Zeina Shanaah

Advised on content strategy and development for regional screenwriting and pitching initiatives, including connecting Arab producers with international studios. Provided script feedback and positioning consultancy for independent storytellers.

Led content strategy for a Saudi-backed studio, driving editorial and commercial evaluation across film and series formats. Initiated development of a diversified slate and built writer workflows from early concept through production-ready scripts, partnering with data teams on predictive audience resonance models.

Taught media literacy, focusing on how entertainment, ads, news, and games shape perception and behavior. Redesigned curriculum to connect academic theory with contemporary communications practice and partnered with VOX Cinemas on a real-time marketing project with live industry challenges.

Built and led VOX Studios' Arabic content division from inception, developing a slate of 11+ films across genres. Evaluated 100+ projects, created a greenlight process combining financial modeling with creative and cultural assessment, and helped deliver 600,000+ tickets for Egypt's Oscar submission “Voy, Voy, Voy!” on Shahid and Netflix.

Managed content strategy across 43 venues in 8 countries using data-driven curation and performance forecasting. Produced audience intelligence reports to inform regional content acquisition and distribution plans, contributing to GCC and MENA theatrical rights acquisition.

Contributed to cultural master-planning for Shindagha Museums heritage district in Dubai.

Repositioned Mirdif City Centre from transactional retail to a community cultural hub. Created and executed integrated campaigns across three major malls to support the repositioning strategy.

Developed and delivered culturally rooted community programming, including school partnerships and women’s events, driving significant earned media and record footfall. Grew the Facebook following from 0 to 20k in 5 months in 2011.

Managed brand development and creative production for Mubadala, Raffles, and Abu Dhabi Municipality.

Managed integrated advertising campaigns, overseeing creative production from concept through delivery.

Managed production of integrated campaigns (online, print, radio) for Shell, Hilton, HP, and Dubai Mercantile Exchange. Supported competitive pitches for global accounts.

PhD in Film & Media Studies at SOAS University of London. Research focused on unconventional aesthetics in 21st-century Arab cinema, with a publishing offer from Bloomsbury.

MA in International Communications at the University of Leeds. Thesis examined one of the region's earliest academic studies on YouTube and digital audience engagement in the Arab world.

BA in Mass Communication (minor: Marketing) from the American University of Sharjah.