Abu Dhabi Film Festival’s fund supports Ibrahim El Batout’s Cat and Ghassan Salhab’s The Valley, among others.

SANAD has announced the first cycle of grants for 2014.

Abu Dhabi Film Festival’s fund supports the development and post-production of films from across the Arab world.

The projects receiving post-production grants are:

  • Ibrahim El Batout’s Cat
  • Ghassan Salhab’s The Valley
  • Amer Shomali & Paul Cowan’s The Wanted 18
  • Nadine Salib’s Um Ghayeb
  • Merieme Addou & Rose Rogers’ Pirates of Salé

The projects receiving development grants are:

  • Hiner Saleem’s Money Babe
  • Mohammed Ben Attia’s Hedi
  • Sameh Zoabi’s Catch the Moon
  • Ahmed Amer’s Kiss Me Not
  • Rami Kodeih’s Sons of Sunday
  • Alia Yunis’ The Golden Harvest
  • Daoud Aoulad-Siyad’s The Bird of the Mountains

Ali Al Jabri [pictured], director of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival, commented: “SANAD seeks out bold, remarkable projects with the aim of encouraging intercultural dialogue and artistic innovation, while building strong networks within the region.

“SANAD has enabled the production of original films that might not have made it past the concept stage without support, and supported film-makers who have gone on to build successful careers in the industry. The fund has fueled creative talent and supplemented twofour54’s work in developing a major media hub in Abu Dhabi and the region.”

Celebrating its fifth anniversary this October, SANAD has funded over 100 film projects as part of its mission to drive the emergence of a film-making hub in the UAE and the Arab World.