DFI grantees will receive mentoring from industry professionals as part of the initiative which will take place during the upcoming third Doha Tribeca Film Festival.

The Doha Film Institute (DFI) has launched a new industry initiative Doha Projects, which will see over 40 film-makers who have picked up funding from the Doha Film Institute, receiving mentoring across all facets of the film business.

Taking place during the third annual Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF), the initiative aims to nurture regional filmmakers and maximise the full potential of DFI-funded film projects.

The DFI grantees will take part in a series of one-on-one meetings, panels and networking events with international sales agents, financing bodies, script consultants, distributors and producers relevant to the region.

Industry professionals helping out with the programme include Fortissimo Films chairman Michael J. Werner [pictured], Egyptian producer Mohamed Hefzy, Emmy nominated producer Joslyn Barnes, Wild Bunch head of acquisitions Rita Dagher, managing director of the National Film Development Corporation of India, Nina Lath Gupta, producer Antoine Khalife, head of acquisitions at D Films, Tony Cianciotta and MBC Group’s Fadi Ismail.

The initiative aims to build on DFI’s film financing division, which launched in May 2011 to provide financial support for Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) filmmakers as well as linking projects with mentors and financiers.

DFI‘s executive director, Amanda Palmer said she hoped the programme would “show the international industry that there is a growing market here that has been truly underexplored and to increase access to the MENA region for international investment. This region has a quickly growing market, filmmakers and audiences are interested, and the opportunities for strong investment and co-production are greater now than ever before.”