@AbuDhabiFF ADFF ANNOUNCES 2ND CYCLE OF SANAD FUND GRANT RECIPIENTS FOR 2013

8 PROJECTS OF ARAB FILMMAKERS TO RECEIVE POST-PRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
 

Grant recipients from the second cycle of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival (ADFF)’s SANAD Fund for 2013 have been announced with 8 new projects chosen to receive grants, out of the 93 who applied. SANAD, which means 'support' in Arabic, awards a total of US$500,000 in grants each year to Arab filmmakers during either the development or post-production phase of their film projects. The SANAD fund is an integral part of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival’s support for Arab filmmaking.

SANAD Winners, Second Cycle 2013:

Post-Production – Narrative
Villa 69 (Egypt, United Arab Emirates), directed by Ayten Amin

Post-Production - Documentary
Iraqi Odyssey (Iraq, Switzerland, Germany, United Arab Emirates), directed by Samir

Development – Narrative
Daoud's Winter (Iraq, Netherlands), directed by Koutaiba Al Janabi
God Protect My Daughter (Tunisia, France), directed by Leyla Bouzid

Development - Documentary
Little (Egypt), directed by Nagham Osman
A Place Under the Sun (Morocco, France, Germany), directed by Karim Aitouna
Waiting Bench (Sudan, France), directed by Suhaib Gasmelbari Mustafa
Sounds of the Sea (United Arab Emirates), directed by Nujoom Al Ghanem
Ghost Hunting (Palestine, France), directed by Raed Andoni

One of the latest film projects to benefit from a SANAD grant, VILLA 69 by director Ayten Amin, will be a world premiere at this year's Abu Dhabi Film Festival. The documentary film IRAQI ODYSSEY by director Samir received a SANAD development grant in 2011, and a post-production grant in this second cycle of 2013 awards. This continues to demonstrate SANAD's commitment in choosing projects with real potential and supporting filmmakers from the early stages of preparation until completion of the film.

Noura Al Kaabi, Chief Executive Officer of twofour54 said: Over the past four years, SANAD has given $1,829,000 (USD) in grants, supporting 93 feature films from Arab film makers, reflecting twofour54’s mandates of supporting talented Arabs”. I am very excited that this year’s festival will screen 5 films supported by the Fund, showcasing the best of Arab filmmaking to international and local audiences.”

Ali Al Jabri, ADFF Director, said: "As part of ADFF’s commitment to assist filmmakers and industry professionals, the Festival has developed the SANAD Co-production Meetings which are designed to promote co-productions and beneficial partnerships between chosen SANAD grantees and producers, sales agents, distributors, film funds, broadcasters and many other industry sectors. Grantees in the development and post-production phases have been invited to attend the SANAD Co-production meetings where they will have pitching opportunities and networking events with key industry players. It's important to note that support for the grantees doesn't just stop at financing. The SANAD fund is dedicated to providing year round creative and industry advice to the grantees.”

In addition to the Co-Production Meetings the Festival will run case study sessions enabling filmmakers to gain a valuable insight into their fellow grantees' experiences of working on their projects. The Co-Production Meetings run from October 25th - 27th.

ADFF contributes to Abu Dhabi being positioned as a creative hub by focusing on high quality, Arab cinema and by supporting and nurturing burgeoning local talent and filmmaking through initiatives such as its SANAD fund.

Established in 2010, the SANAD fund aims to raise the standard of Arabic cinema. Each post-production grantee can receive up to $60,000 of funding, while development grantees can receive up to $20,000 of funding.

For more information regarding SANAD visit the website at www.adff.ae/sanadfund.