An impressive range of 34 projects by first and second-time filmmakers from across the world, including four from Qatar, have been selected by the Doha Film Institute (DFI) for its Spring 2018 Grants cycle that aims to nurture the new generation of creative talents.
Underlining the important role of women in filmmaking, 14 of the chosen projects are helmed by talented female directors. Additionally, the DFI has announced the expansion of its Grants programme, to cover TV and web series by scriptwriters, producers and directors from the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region.
The announcement was made on the sidelines of Cannes Film Festival 2018 by DFI CEO Fatma al-Remaihi. She also announced the recipients of the 2018 Spring Grants cycle covering feature, documentary and short film projects by emerging talents from across the world.
“The diversity of submissions for this cycle has been exceptional, with over 380 submissions received, and we chose the 34 projects for their ability to push cinematic boundaries and engage with audiences anywhere in the world.”
While four projects are by Qatari talents, there are 24 films by Arab directors from the Mena region. Six projects are chosen from outside the Mena region with five countries supported for the first time. In addition to two films from Afghanistan, this cycle includes films from Brazil, Bulgaria, China and Montenegro.
Awarded film Long Day’s Journey into Night (China, France, Taiwan, Qatar) by Gan Bi is premiering in Un Certain Regard at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, underlining the quality of films supported by the DFI.
Feature Narrative - Development:  Arabic Translator (Iraq, Italy, Germany, Qatar) by Ali Kareem Obaid; Behind Closed Doors (Qatar) by Hend Fakhroo;     Longer Will Be the Night (Algeria, France, Qatar) by Latifa Said.
Feature Documentary - Development: Gevar’s Land (Syria, France, Qatar) by Qutaiba Barhamji;     Heights (Algeria, France, Qatar) by Faiza Yakoubi; The Kingdom of Malika (Algeria, France, Qatar) by Hassen Ferhani;  The Cave (Syria, Denmark, US, Qatar) by Feras Fayyad.
Feature Narrative – Production: 200 Meters (Palestine, Jordan, France, Germany, Qatar) by Ameen Nayfeh; Adam (Morocco, France, Qatar) by Maryam Touzani; Girl Made of Dust (Palestine, Lebanon, France, Germany, Denmark, Qatar) by actor Hiam Abbass; Harvest (Lebanon, France, Belgium, US, Qatar) is by DFI grantee Ely Dagher;  My Little One (Morocco, Belgium, France, Qatar) by Kadija Leclere;  The Last Queen (Algeria, France, Qatar) by returning DFI grantee Damien Ounouri ; Tlamess (Tunisia, France, Qatar) by Ala Eddine Slim.
Feature Documentary – Production: Children of the Famine (Lebanon, Qatar) by Reine Mitri; Plastic Flowers (Syria, Germany, Sweden, Qatar) by Amer Almatar.
Feature Narrative – Post-Production:  Haifa Street (Iraq, Qatar) by Mohanad Hayal; Joana, Imagination Is a Form of Memory (Brazil, France, Qatar) by Flavia Castro; In Long Day’s Journey into Night (China, France, Taiwan, Qatar) by Gan Bi; In Sister (Bulgaria, France, Qatar) by Svetla Tsotsorkova; You Have the Night (Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia, Qatar) by Ivan Salatic.
Feature Documentary – Post-Production: Facing the Dragon (Afghanistan, US, Qatar) by Sedika Mojadidi; In Freedom Fields (Libya, UK, US, Netherlands, Canada, Qatar) by Naziha Arebi; Midnight Traveler (Afghanistan, US, Qatar) by Hassan Fazili;  The Devil’s Drivers (Palestine, Germany, Qatar) by Mohamed Abugeth and Daniel Carsenty.  
Shorts: Gubgub (Qatar) by Nouf al-Sulaiti; The Unlucky Hamster (Qatar) by Abdulaziz Khashabi; Lemon Hart (Qatar, France) by Sara al-Thani; Brotherhood (Tunisia, Canada, Qatar) by Meryam Joobeur; Burn the Bird (Palestine, Qatar) by Zahed Bata; How My Grandmother Became a Chair (Lebanon, Germany, Qatar), an animation by Nicolas Fattouh; Prisoner and Jailer (Libya, Qatar) by Muhannad Lamin –  a returning DFI grantee;  Another animation, Rest in Piece (Syria, Germany, UAE, Qatar) by Antoine Antabi:  An experimental, 1001 Stars (Lebanon, France, Qatar) by Valentin Noujaïm.

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