Haifaa Al-Mansour is the first female filmmaker in Saudi Arabia, and is regarded as one of its most significant cinematic figures. The success of her 2005 documentary, “Women Without Shadows,” influenced a new wave of Saudi filmmakers, and made the issue of opening cinemas in the Kingdom front-page news. “Wadjda,” Al-Mansour’s feature debut, is the first feature film shot entirely in Saudi Arabia, and the first by a female director. Al-Mansour is the first artist from the Arabian Gulf region to be invited to join the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Science.

“Mary Shelley” will premiere at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival on April 28.

W&H: Describe the film for us in your own words.

HM: “Mary Shelley” tells of the true and tragic events in the life of a young woman that inspired the writing of “Frankenstein.”

W&H: What drew you to this story?

HM: Many of the problems that Mary Shelley faced continue to challenge women today. The way in which Mary went after what she wanted in her life, without regard to moral or societal limitations, was extremely shocking to the public in her time. Whereas the same behavior would perhaps be more acceptable for a man, public pressure to be chaste and morally pure is still something that women struggle with today.

Sadly, even her struggles to publish her book under her own name show a societal reluctance to embrace works of science, horror, or other traditionally “masculine” themes from a female writer that continues to this day.

Whenever women write something outside of the realm of acceptable topics for the gender — romance, cookery books, children’s books, etc. — we see that there is still a long way to go in unrestricting the potential of the female voice in our society.

W&H: What do you want people to think about when they are leaving the theater?

HM: I want people to enjoy the film, and hopefully be inspired by Mary’s journey. I also want people to understand the power of the female voice, and the very uniquely feminine perspective that Mary Shelley brought to the genre of science fiction. Her story is a reflection of her life, as a mother, a wife, and a daughter, and “Frankenstein” would not exist without the tragic backstory of her life.

It may not seem like a feminist novel but every beat of the story is an echo of her world, and her struggles as a woman.

W&H: What was the biggest challenge in making the film?

HM: The biggest challenge for me, in telling a true story, was staying true to the facts of her journey. I felt a big responsibility to be accurate and honor Mary Shelley’s legacy. Her life story is an important aspect of the “Frankenstein” legacy, and it is a beloved work to so many people for so many different reasons.

So I really wanted to focus on aspects of her personal journey that may not be that well known but are key to truly understanding everything that went into her writing. It was a wonderful challenge, and we had an amazing cast and crew that helped bring her story to life in a beautiful, touching story.

W&H: How did you get your film funded? Share some insights into how you got the film made.

HM: The film is a co-production between the U.S., UK, Ireland, and Luxembourg so it was quite a complicated funding process. Fundraising is never easy, but we were lucky to find so many passionate advocates and fans of Mary Shelley around the world.

We ended up splitting the actual production between Ireland and Luxembourg, which was quite a big move! But it ultimately made the film stronger, and allowed us to get the best of both locations.

W&H: What does it mean for you to have your film play at Tribeca Film Festival?

HM: I am so honored and excited to have my film play at Tribeca Film Festival. When my film “Wadjda” was accepted into the festival years ago I almost cried! We even had Gloria Steinem lead the discussion after the screening there, which remains one of the high points of my career.

Tribeca has been extremely supportive of me throughout my career, and I am so happy to be returning to the festival.

W&H: What’s the best and worst advice you’ve received?

HM: The best advice I ever received was to change the ending of my film “Wadjda” to make it less dark. I got the same advice, over and over, that there was a tone problem with the ending but I was adamant about keeping it. I wanted to show how tough the situation was for women in Saudi, and I could not imagine any ending except a tragic one. But I finally realized that you need to be open to change, and that if you hear the same notes over and over again there is probably something to it.

The worst advice I ever got was to make sure my voice never travelled past the front door because I am a woman!

W&H: What advice do you have for other female directors?

HM: International audiences want to hear from you. If you tell your story honestly, sincerely, and with a dedicated mind toward your craft, you will find an audience.

Tell your stories — they are important and, if done right, will have a huge effect on the world.

W&H: Name your favorite woman-directed film and why.

HM: Jane Campion’s “The Piano” is a remarkable film. It is a visually stunning film, and a wonderful reimagining of the Gothic novel tradition, with a strong, feminist perspective. I especially like the way color is used to guide us through the emotional arc of the journey. It is not only a powerful story; it is entertaining and aesthetically beautiful.

W&H: Hollywood and the global film industry are in the midst of undergoing a major transformation. Many women — and some men — in the industry are speaking publicly about their experiences being assaulted and harassed. What are your thoughts on the #TimesUp movement and the push for equality in the film business?

HM: The #TimesUp movement is really changing the game for the better. It is now up to all of us to seize the moment, and make it count. My main message to women is to keep seeking out opportunities, and don’t get caught up in the frustration and difficulties that come with rejection. Just keep pushing.

A lot of brave women have stood up for all of us, so there are more and more people willing to give women a chance, so go out there, find those opportunities, and work hard to earn them!