Among the grant recipients are six projects by Qatari and Qatar-based talent, 25 projects from women filmmakers, and 14 from returning filmmakers.
The Doha Film Institute (DFI) has reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing emerging voices in global cinema at the Cannes Film Festival 2024, announcing the recipients of its 2024 Spring Grants cycle. This round of the Middle East region’s premier film development programme has selected 44 films from 17 countries, continuing its legacy of supporting over 850 diverse projects from 75 countries to date.
Awarded in two cycles—Spring and Fall—the DFI Grants programme is the region’s longest-running film support initiative, aimed at identifying and nurturing first-and second-time filmmakers worldwide. By seeking out and promoting original voices, the programme fosters a community of filmmakers among the Institute’s alumni and encourages creative interaction among artists globally. The programme supports a wide range of formats including feature and short narratives, documentaries, essays, experimental films, as well as TV and web series.
In addition to Qatar, the 2024 Spring Grant recipients include projects from Algeria, China, Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, and Tunisia, and first-time grantees from Malta, South Korea, and Tajikistan.
The selected recipients feature 25 women filmmakers and 14 returning grantees, along with six projects from Qatar-based talent. This highlights the Institute’s dedication to supporting significant voices and the ongoing evolution of independent cinema from the region and beyond.
Speaking about the recipient, Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Chief Executive Officer of Doha Film Institute, said: “The founding objective of our Grants programme is to build a new collective of authentic voices who bring diversity and depth to the medium of cinema and encourage cross-cultural exchange and dialogue. Our aim is to identify new talent, amplify globally resonant stories and develop a robust ecosystem that nurtures powerful and moving storytelling to help emerging filmmakers realise their creative aspirations.”
She added: “We are proud to present a new slate of captivating projects from across the region and beyond chosen for their innovative filmmaking techniques, reiterating our commitment to nurturing original and independent voices in world cinema. We are particularly excited about the notable presence of female talent, who represent the bold new energy of filmmaking in the Arab world.”
The Grants recipients include Al-Dana (Qatar) by Nora Al-Subai, Sound of Silence (Lebanon, France, Greece, UK, Qatar) by Joyce A. Nashawati, To a Land Unknown (Palestine, UK, Greece, Netherlands, France, Germany, Qatar) by Mahdi Fleifel, The Settlement (Egypt, France, Germany, Qatar) by Mohamed Rashad, Agora (Tunisia, France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar) by Ala Eddine Slim, Żejtune (Malta, Germany, Qatar) by Alex Camilleri, Another Birth (Tajikistan, USA, Germany, Qatar) by Isabelle Kalandar, Flying Elephants (Lebanon, France, Qatar) by Mona Khaouli, Climbing the Mountains (Algeria, France, Germany, Qatar) by Sabrina Chebbi, Those Who Watch Over (Morocco, Belgium, Qatar) by Karima Saidi, Cutting Through Rocks (Iran, Germany, Qatar) by Sara Khaki and Mohammad Reza Eyni, Rent-a-Mama (Lebanon, Canada, Qatar) by Dania Bdeir, El’Sardines (Algeria, France, Qatar) by Zoulikha Tahar, If Only (Qatar) by Ali Al Anssari, Salted Skins (Lebanon, France, Canada, Qatar) by Nicolas Fattouh, Please Pause (Qatar) by Lulwa Al-Thani, and Another Day Shall Come (Palestine, Qatar) by Aida Kaadan, among others.
