or


[10/14/19 - 10:00 AM]
Documentary "Saudi Women's Driving School" Debuts October 24, Exclusively on HBO
This eye-opening film documents the lives of self-reliant women in Saudi Arabia who challenge western stereotypes of their country's gender dynamics, while exercising their long-awaited right to drive.

[via press release from HBO]

DOCUMENTARY "SAUDI WOMEN'S DRIVING SCHOOL," EXAMINING THE CHANGING LIVES OF WOMEN IN SAUDI ARABIA FOLLOWING THE RECENT LIFT OF THE LONGSTANDING BAN ON FEMALE DRIVERS, DEBUTS OCTOBER 24, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO

For many Americans, getting a driver's license is a mundane rite of passage. For women in Saudi Arabia, who were only allowed to drive legally starting in June 2018, it's a critical step along the road to independence. Debuting THURSDAY, OCT. 24 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), SAUDI WOMEN'S DRIVING SCHOOL documents this change with a rarely seen look inside the Kingdom and unprecedented access to The Saudi Women's Driving School, the largest such complex in the world.

The documentary will also be available on HBO NOW, HBO GO, HBO On Demand and partners' streaming platforms.

This eye-opening film documents the lives of self-reliant women in Saudi Arabia who challenge western stereotypes of their country's gender dynamics, while exercising their long-awaited right to drive. A rare, first-hand look into the private homes and spaces in which these strong-willed women exist, the documentary explores how all women's lives are changing in Saudi Arabia, the hope that they have for greater gender equality, and the challenges they face in a country that appears to be making strides forward, but continues to silence and jail female activists.

Women featured in the film include Sarah Saleh, a saleswoman at a car showroom who is taking driving lessons for the first time in hopes of finally owning her own car; Shahad al-Humaizi, a rideshare driver who sees the lifting of the ban as the first step towards greater rights for women; and Amjad Al-Amri, an engineering student and part-time racing driver who dreams of winning a world championship.

In September 2017, King Salman announced by royal decree that he was removing the ban on female drivers - a law that for decades was seen by critics as one of the clearest signs of discrimination and inequality between the sexes in Saudi Arabia. As a result of the ban being lifted, the capital city of Riyadh is now home to the largest driving school in the world, operated exclusively by and for women. With a staggering 250 cars and 700 instructors, The Saudi Driving School still struggles to meet enormous demands from Saudi women who yearn to get behind the wheel.

Saudi Arabia was the only country in the world where women were not allowed to drive and while most women in the country seem eager to put misogynistic laws in the rearview, the same cannot be assumed for much of the patriarchal Kingdom's male population. Five weeks before the ban was officially lifted, several women who had campaigned for the right to drive were arrested and accused of destabilizing the Kingdom. Nearly 18 months later, the final charges against them have still not been made public by Saudi authorities.

After Saudi Arabia lifted the ban on female drivers, many activists shifted their focus to the issue of male guardianship - a set of laws and social restrictions that require adult Saudi women to get the permission of a male guardian to obtain a passport and travel abroad, among other basic freedoms. But in July 2019, Saudi Arabia announced that it would allow women to travel without the permission of a guardian, although rules around marriage still remain.

SAUDI WOMEN'S DRIVING SCHOOL was directed by Erica Gornall; produced by Nick London; executive produced by Fiona Stourton. For HBO: executive producer, Nancy Abraham; senior producer, Sara Rodriguez.





  [october 2019]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





[10/17/25 - 01:16 PM]
"Live with Kelly and Mark" Hits Season Highs with Best Audience Performance Since July
"Live" has now ranked as the No. 1 talk show in syndication for 139 consecutive weeks across all key measures.

[10/17/25 - 10:38 AM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Continues Historic Hot Streak - Rising for Fourth Straight Week Since Premiere with 6 Million Total Viewers
Plus: "High Potential" dominated the 10 p.m. hour with 4.15 million Total Viewers and a 0.33 rating among Adults 18-49.

[10/17/25 - 10:01 AM]
51st Season of "Saturday Night Live" Continues with Three Back-to-Back Shows in November
Miles Teller is on tap to host on November 1, followed by Nikki Glaser on November 8, and Glen Powell on November 15.

[10/17/25 - 09:05 AM]
All-New Season of "The Last Woodsmen" Premieres Friday, November 14 at 9PM ET/PT on Discovery
Deep in the untamed wilderness of the Pacific Northwest, veteran logger Jared Douglas returns to put everything on the line in the new season.

[10/17/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Mob War: Philadelphia vs. The Mafia" - Sneak Peek - Netflix
A brutal mob war between John Stanfa and Joey Merlino plunges '90s Philadelphia into chaos and bloodshed in this captivating true-crime series.

[10/17/25 - 08:31 AM]
Video: "Me late que si" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A desperate, ordinary man, fed up with his misfortune, hatches a daring heist and assembles a very unusual group to attempt the impossible: stealing a live lottery jackpot.

[10/17/25 - 08:00 AM]
"Weapons" Begins Streaming Exclusively on HBO Max October 24
When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at 2:17 a.m., a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance.

[10/17/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "My Secret Santa" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A vivacious single-mom (Alexandra Breckenridge) in need of a job decides to disguise herself as a man in order to get hired as the seasonal Santa at a luxury ski resort.

[10/17/25 - 07:01 AM]
"Euphoria" Season 3 Is Coming Spring 2026
Newly announced cast members include Gideon Adlon, Bill Bodner, Colleen Camp, Danielle Deadwyler, Homer Gere, Jessica Blair Herman, Natasha Lyonne, Hemky Madera, Kwame Patterson, Trisha Paytas, Rebecca Pidgeon, Bella Podaras, Cailyn Rice, Eli Roth, Madison Thompson, Jack Topalian, Sam Trammell, Matthew Willig.

[10/17/25 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Eloa the Hostage: Live on TV" - Official Trailer - Netflix
This gripping documentary explores the case of a teenage girl who was kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend in one of Brazil's most shocking hostage situations.

[10/17/25 - 06:01 AM]
Apple Is the Exclusive New Broadcast Partner for Formula 1 in the U.S.
Apple TV will deliver comprehensive coverage of Formula 1, with all practice, qualifying, Sprint sessions, and Grands Prix available to Apple TV subscribers.

[10/16/25 - 02:11 PM]
Video: National Geographic Unveils First Look at "Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip to Remember" - A Powerful and Heartfelt Special Featuring the Global Movie Star on His Most Personal Journey Yet
The one-hour documentary, from Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Darren Aronofsky's Protozoa, Jane Root's Nutopia, and Chris Hemsworth and Ben Grayson's Wild State, premieres November 23 at 9:00/8:00c on National Geographic and streams the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.

[10/16/25 - 12:58 PM]
Lifetime Announces Annual "It's a Wonderful Lifetime" Holiday Movie Slate Kicking Off November 29th
Featured talent this year includes Brandy Norwood, Kane & Katelyn Brown, Loretta Devine, Debbi Morgan, Arielle Kebbel, Tyler Hilton, James Lafferty, Vivica A. Fox, Jackée Harry, Sy'Rai Smith, Nischelle Turner, Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, and others.

[10/16/25 - 12:31 PM]
Video: "The Witcher" Season 4 - Character Trailer - Netflix
Scattered to fates unknown, Geralt, Yennefer and Ciri traverse the war-torn Continent and its countless enemies in the hope of finding each other again.

[10/16/25 - 11:32 AM]
A+E Global Media and Rachael Ray's Free Food Studios Cook Up Expanded Programming Partnership with Over 100 New Episodes Ordered
The network has ordered 110 new episodes of Ray's programming, including new episodes of "Meals in Minutes," that will continue to focus on her approachable and comforting cooking style.