The Doha Film Institute (DFI) has announced the slate of 25 projects in various stages of production that will receive grants in its second funding round.

The grants, for features, shorts and documentaries, include eight for development, 12 for production and five for post-production. Lebanon and Eypt are strongly represented with ten and five projects respectively (see full list below). The projects also come from Algeria, Palestine, Syria, Jordan, Tunisia and Morocco.

With the Arab world facing political tumult and rising production costs, DFI executive director Amanda Palmer said it was more important than ever to support Arab filmmakers. The Qatar-based film body also expects to make several co-production announcements later in the year.

“The MENA region has always struggled to get financial support from the Arab world, and this year, we are already hearing that the impact of change has increased production budgets and made it even more difficult for filmmakers to make their stories,” Palmer said.

“It’s more important than ever that organisations like DFI not only support these filmmakers, but encourage others in the Arab world to support in this time of industry uncertainty and change.”

In 2010, the DFI’s first round of funding supported six Middle Eastern features including Nadine Labaki’s Where Do We Go Now? which is screening in Un Certain Regard. The DFI also co-produced $55m epic Black Gold, starring Antonio Banderas and Freida Pinto, which will have its world premiere at the Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF) in October.

The DFI will also be accepting new grant applications from June 1-July 15 this year. Successful applicants will be announced at the DTFF. “We’d like to see more applications from North Africa. Hopefully with the recent changes, young people from North Africa will feel more connected to the MENA region,” Palmer said.  

Grant Recipients:

 

Post Production:

El Shooq, Khaled El-Hagar (Egypt)

Feature Narrative

Normal, Merzak Allouache (Algeria)

Feature Documentary

Sudan. Land. Music, Mahmoud Omar (Egypt)

Short Documentary

February 19, Tamara Stepanyan (Lebanon)

Short Narrative

Yearning, Lina Alabed (Palestine/Egypt)

Feature Documentary

Production:

Beirut Hold’em, Michel Kammoun (Lebanon)

Feature Narrative

Challat of Tunis, Kaouther Ben Hania (Tunisia)

Feature Narrative

Confession and Struggle, Eliane Raheb (Lebanon)

Feature Documentary

Haneen, Ossama Bawardi (Palestine)

Short Narrative

Ibn Battuta, Tariq Teguia (Algeria)

Feature Narrative

Mohamed Saved from the Waters, Safaa Fathy (Egypt)

Feature Documentary

Mosqui Cinema, Mohamad Malas (Syria)

Feature Narrative

Notes on a Tunisian Odyssey, Kays Mejri and Matt Petterson (Tunisia/US)

Feature Documentary

Rumors, Azza El Hassan (Palestine/Jordan)

Short Narrative

Teta, Merva Faddoul (Lebanon)

Short Narrative

Until Morning, Hisham Bizri (Lebanon)

Feature Narrative

When We’re Born, Tamer Ezzat (Egypt)

Feature Narrative

Development:

Asphalt, Ali Hammoud (Lebanon)

Feature Documentary

Dona Cesaria, Dima Al-Joundi (Lebanon)

Feature Documentary

Fevers, Hicham Ayouch (Morocco/France)

Feature Narrative

A Gaza Weekend, Basil Khalil (Palestine)

Feature Narrative

Housekeeping, Mazen Khaled (Lebanon)

Feature Narrative

Nostalgia, Zaid Abu Hamdan (Jordan)

Feature Narrative

Shadow of a Man, Niam Itany (Lebanon)

Feature Narrative

Upside Down, Ahmad Ghossein (Lebanon)

Feature Narrative

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