Abu Dhabi Film Festivals fund, SANAD, announced the first cycle of grants for 2014 to support the development and post-production of several films by filmmakers from across the Arab world. Projects receiving post-production grants are Cat, directed by Ibrahim El Batout; The Valley, directed by Ghassan Salhab; The Wanted 18, directed by Amer Shomali and Paul Cowan; Um Ghayeb, directed […]
Abu Dhabi Film Festivals fund, SANAD, announced the first cycle of grants for 2014 to support the development and post-production of several films by filmmakers from across the Arab world.
Projects receiving post-production grants are Cat, directed by Ibrahim El Batout; The Valley, directed by Ghassan Salhab; The Wanted 18, directed by Amer Shomali and Paul Cowan; Um Ghayeb, directed by Nadine Salib; and Pirates of Salé, directed by Merieme Addou and Rosa Rogers.
Projects receiving development grants are Money Babe, directed by Hiner Saleem – who was previously awarded both a SANAD Development Grant in 2012 and Post-Production Grant in 2013 for his film My Sweet Pepper Land.
Hedi, directed by Mohammed Ben Attia, and produced by Dora Bouchoucha – who was previously awarded a SANAD Development grant in 2010 for the film Foreign Body which was directed by Raja Amari, and a Post-Production Grant in 2012 for the film Cursed by The Phosphate, directed by Sami Tlili, and received the Best Film from The Arab World at The Abu Dhabi Film Festival Documentary Film Competition.
Additional projects include Catch the Moon, directed by Sameh Zoabi; Kiss Me Not, directed by Ahmed Amer; Sons of Sunday, directed by Rami Kodeih; The Golden Harvest, directed by Alia Yunis; and The Bird of the Mountains, directed by Daoud Aoulad-Siyad
SANAD seeks out bold, remarkable projects with the aim of encouraging intercultural dialogue and artistic innovation, while building strong networks within the region, said Ali Al Jabri, Director of Abu Dhabi Film Festival.
SANAD also offers ongoing support and publicity for selected projects to connect filmmakers to potential partners, funding opportunities and audiences.
Al Jabri added: SANAD has enabled the production of original films that might not have made it past the concept stage without support, and supported filmmakers who have gone on to build successful careers in the industry. The fund has fueled creative talent and supplemented twofour54s work in developing a major media hub in Abu Dhabi and the region.
Abu Dhabi Film Festival (ADFF), which is powered by twofour54, the commercial arm of the Media Zone Authority Abu Dhabi, will be celebrating SANADs fifth anniversary this October. ADFF has funded over 100 film projects as part of its mission to drive the emergence of a filmmaking hub in the UAE and the Arab World.
