The Abu Dhabi Film Festival has announced the first round of grant recipients for its Sanad film fund for Arab filmmakers.

A total of $500,000 in grants for development and post-production is being provided to 28 feature-length narrative and documentary films by both new and established filmmakers from the Arab world. Many of the projects are being set up as co-productions with European countries (see full list below).

Established in April 2010, the fund provides grants in two categories: development funds of up to $20,000 per project, and post-production funds of up to $60,000 per project.

The Sanad selection team noted that there was a trend towards artistic innovation in the projects that were submitted. 

“We are privileged to be the first-hand witnesses of such an exciting trend and we want to transmit this passion to audiences in Abu Dhabi and beyond. Artistic films can be difficult, but the courage of the directors, screenwriters, editors and actors to step away from formulas is one of the most reassuring signs of the vitality and potential of Arab filmmaking,” said Sanad head Marie-Pierre Macia.

The second cycle of Sanad grants will be announced in February 2011.

FULL LIST OF RECIPIENTS:

POST-PRODUCTION PROJECTS NARRATIVE

Death For Sale – Faouzi Bensaidi (Morocco-Belgium-France)

In The Last Days Of The City – Tamer El Said (Egypt-UK)

OK, Enough, Goodbye – Rania Attieh, Daniel Garcie (Lebanon)

Quarantine – Oday Rasheed (Iraq-Germany)

Here Comes The Rain – Bahij Hojeij (Lebanon)

My Brother – Kamal El Mahouti (Morocco-France)

On The Plank – Leila Kilani (Morocco-France)

Sun Dress – Saeed Salmeen (UAE-Syria)

POST-PRODUCTION PROJECTS DOCUMENTARY

In My Mother’s Arms – Atia, Mohamed Al-Daradji (Iraq-UK)

Mohammad Saved From The Waters – Safaa Fathy (Eypt-France)

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS NARRATIVE

Aziza Doesn’t Know What She Says – Nadia El Fani (Tunisia)

Dead Sea – Ihab Jadallah (Palestine-France)

Zanka Contact – Ismael El Maoula El Iraki (Morocco-France)

Playground Stories – Brahim Fritah (Morocco-France)

Train Station – Mohamed Al-Daradji (Iraq-UK-Netherlands)

Chronicles Of My Village – Karim Bachir Traidia (Algeria-Netherlands)

Ibn Battuta – Tariq Teguia (Algeria-Lebanon-France-Greece)

May In The Summer – Cherien Dabis (Jordan-France)

The Stroke – Hala Lotfy (Egypt)

Via Dolorosa – Sobhi Al-Zobaidi (Palestine)

When I Sawy You – Annemarie Jacir (Jordan)

With The Light Has An Eye To See – Mohamad Malas (Syria-France)

Foreign Body – Raja Amari (Tunisia-France)

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS DOCUMENTARY

Lebanese Rocket Society – Joana Hadjithomas, Khalil Joreige (Lebanon-France)

My Jinn – Dalia Al Kury (Jordan-Germany)

In Search Of Oil And Sand – Philippe Laurent Dib (Egypt)

As If We Were Catching A Cobra – Hala Alabdalla (Syria-France)

Seduction – Omar Amiralay (Syria)

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