Calling all aspiring filmmakers in the Arab world! The Abu Dhabi Film Festival has extended its call for applications for the ADFF's celebrated SANAD grant until the 20th April, with the second deadline for the next call for submissions on 1st July. This year’s Abu Dhabi Film Festival marks its 7th edition and will take place from 24th October 2013 to the 2nd November 2013.
The SANAD fund aims to support filmmakers from the Arab world through providing their film projects with funding. Every year, SANAD dedicates USD 500,000 to fund Arab filmmakers. The funding can be given to projects that are in the development or post-production phase; projects in the development phase can garner up to USD 20,000 each, and those in the post-production phase can get up to USD 60,000 per project. The films must be produced at least in part in one of the Arab countries mentioned below.
SANAD grants are given to Arab filmmakers with a citizenship in one of the following countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros Islands, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
Established in 2010, SANAD has funded 60 film projects and has received 450 submissions to date. Among the recent films supported by SANAD are A World Not Ours, Coming Forth By Day and When I Saw You, the three of which were featured in the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival. They were also the only Arab feature-length films to be showcased at the festival. The same films were also awarded at last year's Abu Dhabi Film Festival. Other films funded by SANAD were featured in major film festivals including Cannes, Venice, and Toronto.
Projects can be submitted until 20th April 2013 through www.adff.ae/sanadfund. The second deadline is July 1, 2013. For more information you can email sanad@adff.ae or call (+971) 24011906.
– Sam Khoury
