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Tribune News Network
Doha
An impressive slate of 39 projects by first- and second-time filmmakers from across the world and established names from the Arab world was announced for the Doha Film Institute’s (DFI) Fall 2020 Grants, the institute’s leading film-funding programme that supports emerging voices in film.
With 22 projects from the MENA region, two from the GCC and seven from Qatar, the programme continues in its mission to amplify emerging creative voices in the development of original and compelling content. Recognising the central role of women in cinema, 16 of the chosen projects are by talented female directors.
Acting as a key platform to first- and second-time filmmakers, the DFI Grants programme has evolved to be a crucial initiative that identifies new cinematic talent and discovers universally resonant stories.
The Fall 2020 Grants covers a wide range of film productions that include feature, documentary, short film, TV series and a VR project. Among the selected projects are TV series by Qatari and GCC talent, and affirming its role as a champion of Arab cinema, 31 selected projects represent powerful emerging voices from the MENA region. The 8 selected international projects in post-production stage represent Belgium, Bolivia, China, Ethiopia, France, Iran, Philippines and Sweden.
Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, chief executive officer of DFI, said: “We have worked over the past ten years on our commitment to establishing an important resource hub as part of a comprehensive ecosystem that promotes Arab talent and skills and adds value to the region’s creative industry. The DFI Grants programme demonstrates our core mission to amplify important cinematic voices to realise their storytelling aspirations, and to develop and support world cinema to promote cultural diversity in the film industry.”
Fall 2020 Grant Recipients
MENA – Feature Narrative – Development: Queens of Shadow (Morocco, Qatar) by Aida Senna; and The Crown of Olives (Oman, Italy, Qatar) by Muzna Almusafer.
MENA – Feature Documentary – Development: Out of Place (Palestine, Sweden, Qatar) by Mohammed Al Madjalawi; In Targuia (France, Algeria, Italy, Qatar) by Leïla Artese Benhadj; The Camera Never Cries (Sudan, Qatar) by Elsadig Abdelgayoum and Abuzar Adam; Theft of Fire (Palestine, Canada, Qatar) by Amer Shomali; and Wall of Death (Morocco, France, Qatar) by Amine Sabir follows Zahra.
MENA – TV Series – Development: Mornings in Jenin (Palestine, UK, Qatar) by Annemarie Jacir; and The Exchange (Kuwait, Qatar) by Nadia Ahmad.
MENA – Feature Narrative – Production: In Ashkal (Tunisia, France, Qatar) by Youssef Chebbi; Blacklight (Algeria, France, Qatar) by Karim Bensalah; and In Under Construction (Lebanon, Qatar) by Nadim Tabet.
MENA – Feature Documentary – Production: Companions of the White Arc (Qatar, Jordan, Norway, Romania) by Elia Youssef and Mohammed Al Thani; It Snows at Sidi Bou Said (Tunisia, France, Qatar) by Fatma Chérif; In Jodari Meno (Qatar, Zanzibar, Italy) by Jamal Al-Khanji; and My Father’s House (Denmark, Palestine, Qatar) by Mahdi Fleifel.
MENA – Web Series – Production: Locals. Qatar. (Qatar) by Saud Al-Thani; and Rise of the Mad Cat (Qatar) by Meshaal AlAbdulla.
Feature Narrative – Post-Production: MENA-Established -- Neighbours (Syria, Switzerland, Qatar) by Mano Khalil; Non-MENA -- In El Gran Movimiento (Bolivia, France, Switzerland, Qatar) by Kiro Russo; Orca (Iran, Qatar) by Sahar Mossayebi; and Whether the Weather is Fine (Philippines, France, Singapore, Indonesia, Germany, Qatar) by Carlo Francisco Manatad.
Feature Documentary – Post-Production: MENA -- As I Want (Palestine, Norway, France) by Samaher Alqadi; and Fragments from Heaven (Morocco, France, Qatar) by Adnane Baraka; Non-MENA -- Children of the Enemy (Sweden, Denmark, Qatar) by Gorki Glaser-Müller; Faya Dayi (Ethiopia, USA, Qatar) by Jessica Beshir; Les Enfants Terribles (France, Germany, Turkey, Qatar) by Ahmet Necdet Cupur; In Miles to Go Before She Sleeps (China, USA, Qatar) by Mijie Li; and The Miracle of Almer?a (Belgium, Switzerland, Netherlands, Qatar) by Moon Blaisse.
MENA - Short Narrative – Production: A Simple Cut (Qatar) by Maha Al Jefairi; In Dear Son (Lebanon, Qatar) by Wassim Geagea; On the Dock (Morocco, France, Qatar) by Yassine Ouahrani; Kendila (Tunisia, Qatar) by Nadia Rais; The Bird’s Placebo (Tunisia, Germany, Qatar) by Rami Jarboui.
MENA – Short Documentary – Production: Abandon (Lebanon, Qatar) by Farah Shaer; Aziza (Morocco, Qatar) by Chahine Fellahi; and Don’t Get Too Comfortable (Yemen, UAE, Kenya, Qatar) by Shaima Al Tamimi.
Qatar - Short Narrative – Post-Production: Hope (Qatar) by Abdulla Al-Janahi; and Revenge Knows Nothing (Qatar) by Abdulla Al-Janahi and Abdulaziz Khashabi; First- and second-time directors from the MENA region are eligible for DFI’s development, production and post-production funding for feature-length projects. Production funding is available to short films from the MENA region; development funding for screenwriters from the MENA region for TV series; and production funding to directors from the MENA region for web series. Established MENA directors can apply for post-production funding for feature-length projects. Post-production funding is also available to international first- and second-time filmmakers for feature-length projects.
The 2021 Springs Grants cycle is open for submissions from January 4 to 17, 2021.
Doha
An impressive slate of 39 projects by first- and second-time filmmakers from across the world and established names from the Arab world was announced for the Doha Film Institute’s (DFI) Fall 2020 Grants, the institute’s leading film-funding programme that supports emerging voices in film.
With 22 projects from the MENA region, two from the GCC and seven from Qatar, the programme continues in its mission to amplify emerging creative voices in the development of original and compelling content. Recognising the central role of women in cinema, 16 of the chosen projects are by talented female directors.
Acting as a key platform to first- and second-time filmmakers, the DFI Grants programme has evolved to be a crucial initiative that identifies new cinematic talent and discovers universally resonant stories.
The Fall 2020 Grants covers a wide range of film productions that include feature, documentary, short film, TV series and a VR project. Among the selected projects are TV series by Qatari and GCC talent, and affirming its role as a champion of Arab cinema, 31 selected projects represent powerful emerging voices from the MENA region. The 8 selected international projects in post-production stage represent Belgium, Bolivia, China, Ethiopia, France, Iran, Philippines and Sweden.
Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, chief executive officer of DFI, said: “We have worked over the past ten years on our commitment to establishing an important resource hub as part of a comprehensive ecosystem that promotes Arab talent and skills and adds value to the region’s creative industry. The DFI Grants programme demonstrates our core mission to amplify important cinematic voices to realise their storytelling aspirations, and to develop and support world cinema to promote cultural diversity in the film industry.”
Fall 2020 Grant Recipients
MENA – Feature Narrative – Development: Queens of Shadow (Morocco, Qatar) by Aida Senna; and The Crown of Olives (Oman, Italy, Qatar) by Muzna Almusafer.
MENA – Feature Documentary – Development: Out of Place (Palestine, Sweden, Qatar) by Mohammed Al Madjalawi; In Targuia (France, Algeria, Italy, Qatar) by Leïla Artese Benhadj; The Camera Never Cries (Sudan, Qatar) by Elsadig Abdelgayoum and Abuzar Adam; Theft of Fire (Palestine, Canada, Qatar) by Amer Shomali; and Wall of Death (Morocco, France, Qatar) by Amine Sabir follows Zahra.
MENA – TV Series – Development: Mornings in Jenin (Palestine, UK, Qatar) by Annemarie Jacir; and The Exchange (Kuwait, Qatar) by Nadia Ahmad.
MENA – Feature Narrative – Production: In Ashkal (Tunisia, France, Qatar) by Youssef Chebbi; Blacklight (Algeria, France, Qatar) by Karim Bensalah; and In Under Construction (Lebanon, Qatar) by Nadim Tabet.
MENA – Feature Documentary – Production: Companions of the White Arc (Qatar, Jordan, Norway, Romania) by Elia Youssef and Mohammed Al Thani; It Snows at Sidi Bou Said (Tunisia, France, Qatar) by Fatma Chérif; In Jodari Meno (Qatar, Zanzibar, Italy) by Jamal Al-Khanji; and My Father’s House (Denmark, Palestine, Qatar) by Mahdi Fleifel.
MENA – Web Series – Production: Locals. Qatar. (Qatar) by Saud Al-Thani; and Rise of the Mad Cat (Qatar) by Meshaal AlAbdulla.
Feature Narrative – Post-Production: MENA-Established -- Neighbours (Syria, Switzerland, Qatar) by Mano Khalil; Non-MENA -- In El Gran Movimiento (Bolivia, France, Switzerland, Qatar) by Kiro Russo; Orca (Iran, Qatar) by Sahar Mossayebi; and Whether the Weather is Fine (Philippines, France, Singapore, Indonesia, Germany, Qatar) by Carlo Francisco Manatad.
Feature Documentary – Post-Production: MENA -- As I Want (Palestine, Norway, France) by Samaher Alqadi; and Fragments from Heaven (Morocco, France, Qatar) by Adnane Baraka; Non-MENA -- Children of the Enemy (Sweden, Denmark, Qatar) by Gorki Glaser-Müller; Faya Dayi (Ethiopia, USA, Qatar) by Jessica Beshir; Les Enfants Terribles (France, Germany, Turkey, Qatar) by Ahmet Necdet Cupur; In Miles to Go Before She Sleeps (China, USA, Qatar) by Mijie Li; and The Miracle of Almer?a (Belgium, Switzerland, Netherlands, Qatar) by Moon Blaisse.
MENA - Short Narrative – Production: A Simple Cut (Qatar) by Maha Al Jefairi; In Dear Son (Lebanon, Qatar) by Wassim Geagea; On the Dock (Morocco, France, Qatar) by Yassine Ouahrani; Kendila (Tunisia, Qatar) by Nadia Rais; The Bird’s Placebo (Tunisia, Germany, Qatar) by Rami Jarboui.
MENA – Short Documentary – Production: Abandon (Lebanon, Qatar) by Farah Shaer; Aziza (Morocco, Qatar) by Chahine Fellahi; and Don’t Get Too Comfortable (Yemen, UAE, Kenya, Qatar) by Shaima Al Tamimi.
Qatar - Short Narrative – Post-Production: Hope (Qatar) by Abdulla Al-Janahi; and Revenge Knows Nothing (Qatar) by Abdulla Al-Janahi and Abdulaziz Khashabi; First- and second-time directors from the MENA region are eligible for DFI’s development, production and post-production funding for feature-length projects. Production funding is available to short films from the MENA region; development funding for screenwriters from the MENA region for TV series; and production funding to directors from the MENA region for web series. Established MENA directors can apply for post-production funding for feature-length projects. Post-production funding is also available to international first- and second-time filmmakers for feature-length projects.
The 2021 Springs Grants cycle is open for submissions from January 4 to 17, 2021.
