The Fund awards a total of $500,00 each year to Arab filmmakers.

The Abu Dhabi Film Festival’s SANAD Fund has announced the 9 new projects receiving its second round of 2013 grants.

These 8 projects were selected from 93 applications.

SANAD awards $500,000 per year to Arab filmmakers for development or post production.

The awards confirmed today are:

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

Villa 69 [pictured] will have its world premiere at this week’s Abu Dhabi Film Festival.

Noura Al Kaabi, Chief Executive Officer of twofour54 said: Over the past four years, SANAD has given $1,829,000 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 five films supported by the Fund, showcasing the best of Arab filmmaking to international and local audiences.”

Ali Al Jabri, ADFF Director, added: “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.”