A fresh new slate of 35 compelling film projects by first- and second-time filmmakers has been selected by the Doha Film Institute (DFI) for its 2021 Fall Grants cycle, the funding programme that aims to promote and nurture emerging voices in cinema.
Among the grantees are 12 women and 10 past grantees as well as eight projects by Qatari talents, underlining the continued evolution of a body of independent cinema from the region, supported by the Institute.
The Grants programme has evolved as one of the flagship film funding initiatives by DFI. Awarded in two cycles – Fall and Spring – the programme has to date supported more than 650 film projects from across the world, which are in various stages of production.
With the goal of seeking out original voices in cinema, it has enabled the Institute to develop a community of filmmakers among its alumni, who are also provided mentoring and creative support throughout the life cycle of the films.
Representing the diversity of the film projects chosen for the Grants, the recipients come from countries across the Middle East and North Africa region with the largest representation from Algeria, Egypt and Lebanon as well as projects from Mauritania, Palestine, Yemen and Syria.
The nine international projects in this cycle are from Costa Rica, Croatia, Djibouti, France, Indonesia, Iran, Myanmar and Serbia. The Grants cover projects including feature and short narratives, documentaries and experimentals as well as TV series.
In a press statement, DFI CEO Fatma Hassan Alremaihi said: “With the sweeping challenges that emerging film talents face in the current environment, we believe it is our responsibility to further step up our support to ensure that their cinematic aspirations are realised.
“The Grants programme, through both its cycles, serves not only in elevating original cinematic voices but also in ensuring that first- and second-time filmmakers receive the support they need – from funding to mentoring and networking.”
She added: “The success of our Grants programme in creating a robust body of independent cinema is underlined by the accolades several past recipients have achieved globally with their films. Many have won illustrious awards and touched audiences globally.
“We are proud of the creative ideas that our emerging talent present; they stand out for showcasing the region and narrating stories that are untold. These film projects serve more than a creative purpose: They are bridges for the world to better understand the Arab world.”
The 2021 Fall Grants recipients are:
* Mena - Feature Narrative - Development
• 'Délit de Solidarité' (Algeria) by Mounia Meddour
• 'The Photographer' (Syria) by Anas Khalaf
* Mena - Feature Documentary - Development
• 'My Dream to Fly' (Egypt) by Asmaa Gamal
• 'Those Who Watch Over' (Morocco) by Karima Saïdi
* Mena - Feature Documentary - Production
• 'When the News Break You' (Qatar) by Hamad al-Hajri
• 'Broken Dreamland' (Morocco) by Khalid Laboudi and Hannu-Pekka Vitikaine
• 'The Missing Camel' (Mauritania), directed by Cheikh N'diaye
* Mena - Feature Narrative - Production
• 'All That the Wind Can Carry' (Egypt) by Maged Nader
• 'Oum' (Morocco) by Sofia Alaoui
• 'Hamlet from the Slums' (Egypt) by Ahmed Fawzi-Saleh
• 'Perfumed with Mint' (Egypt), directed by Mohamed Hamdy
* Mena - Feature Documentary – Post-Production
• 'The Mother of All Lies' (Morocco) by Asmae El Moudir
* Mena - Feature Experiment – Post-Production
• 'The Outlandish' (Algeria) by Tahar Kessi
• 'Fidai Film' (Palestine), directed by Kamal Aljafari
* Mena - Feature Narrative – Post-Production
• 'The Dam' (Lebanon) by Ali Cherri
* Non-Mena – Feature Documentary – Post-Production
• 'In A Year of Endless Days' (Croatia) director Renata Lu?i?
• 'Another Spring' (Serbia) by Mladen Kovacevic
• 'Green Line' (France) by Sylvie Ballyot
• 'Khmerica' (France) by Antoine Guide
• 'Midwives' (Myanmar) by Snow Hnin Ei Hlaing
* Non-Mena - Feature Narrative – Post-Production
• 'Autobiography' (Indonesia) by Makbul Mubarak
• 'Domingo and the Mist' (Costa Rica) by Ariel Escalante Meza
• 'Until Tomorrow' (Iran) by Ali Asgari
* TV Series - Development
• 'Out of My Mind' (Djibouti) by Mo Yusuf
• 'Why did the Bluesman Cross the Road?' (Lebanon) by Meedo Taha
* Mena - Short Projects - Development
• 'The Line' (Qatar) by Hitmi Alhitmi
• 'I Wished for Solitude' (Qatar) by Hamad al-Fayhani
* Mena - Short Projects - Production
• 'Mary' (Qatar) by Abdulaziz Khashabi and Abdulla al-Janahi
• 'Ebb and Flow' (Lebanon) by Nay Tabbara
• 'Sea Salt' (Lebanon) by Leila Basma
• 'Fariha' (Yemen) by Badr Yousef
• 'Pacific Club' (Lebanon) by Valentin Noujaïm
• 'Lost Memories' (Lebanon, Qatar) by Aya al-Blouchi
* Mena - Short Projects – Post-Production
• 'A Proposal' (Qatar) by Nadia Alkhater
The Grants programme has evolved as one of the flagship film funding initiatives by DFI. Awarded in two cycles – Fall and Spring – the programme has to date supported more than 650 film projects from across the world, which are in various stages of production.
With the goal of seeking out original voices in cinema, it has enabled the Institute to develop a community of filmmakers among its alumni, who are also provided mentoring and creative support throughout the life cycle of the films.
Representing the diversity of the film projects chosen for the Grants, the recipients come from countries across the Middle East and North Africa region with the largest representation from Algeria, Egypt and Lebanon as well as projects from Mauritania, Palestine, Yemen and Syria.
The nine international projects in this cycle are from Costa Rica, Croatia, Djibouti, France, Indonesia, Iran, Myanmar and Serbia. The Grants cover projects including feature and short narratives, documentaries and experimentals as well as TV series.
In a press statement, DFI CEO Fatma Hassan Alremaihi said: “With the sweeping challenges that emerging film talents face in the current environment, we believe it is our responsibility to further step up our support to ensure that their cinematic aspirations are realised.
“The Grants programme, through both its cycles, serves not only in elevating original cinematic voices but also in ensuring that first- and second-time filmmakers receive the support they need – from funding to mentoring and networking.”
She added: “The success of our Grants programme in creating a robust body of independent cinema is underlined by the accolades several past recipients have achieved globally with their films. Many have won illustrious awards and touched audiences globally.
“We are proud of the creative ideas that our emerging talent present; they stand out for showcasing the region and narrating stories that are untold. These film projects serve more than a creative purpose: They are bridges for the world to better understand the Arab world.”
The 2021 Fall Grants recipients are:
* Mena - Feature Narrative - Development
• 'Délit de Solidarité' (Algeria) by Mounia Meddour
• 'The Photographer' (Syria) by Anas Khalaf
* Mena - Feature Documentary - Development
• 'My Dream to Fly' (Egypt) by Asmaa Gamal
• 'Those Who Watch Over' (Morocco) by Karima Saïdi
* Mena - Feature Documentary - Production
• 'When the News Break You' (Qatar) by Hamad al-Hajri
• 'Broken Dreamland' (Morocco) by Khalid Laboudi and Hannu-Pekka Vitikaine
• 'The Missing Camel' (Mauritania), directed by Cheikh N'diaye
* Mena - Feature Narrative - Production
• 'All That the Wind Can Carry' (Egypt) by Maged Nader
• 'Oum' (Morocco) by Sofia Alaoui
• 'Hamlet from the Slums' (Egypt) by Ahmed Fawzi-Saleh
• 'Perfumed with Mint' (Egypt), directed by Mohamed Hamdy
* Mena - Feature Documentary – Post-Production
• 'The Mother of All Lies' (Morocco) by Asmae El Moudir
* Mena - Feature Experiment – Post-Production
• 'The Outlandish' (Algeria) by Tahar Kessi
• 'Fidai Film' (Palestine), directed by Kamal Aljafari
* Mena - Feature Narrative – Post-Production
• 'The Dam' (Lebanon) by Ali Cherri
* Non-Mena – Feature Documentary – Post-Production
• 'In A Year of Endless Days' (Croatia) director Renata Lu?i?
• 'Another Spring' (Serbia) by Mladen Kovacevic
• 'Green Line' (France) by Sylvie Ballyot
• 'Khmerica' (France) by Antoine Guide
• 'Midwives' (Myanmar) by Snow Hnin Ei Hlaing
* Non-Mena - Feature Narrative – Post-Production
• 'Autobiography' (Indonesia) by Makbul Mubarak
• 'Domingo and the Mist' (Costa Rica) by Ariel Escalante Meza
• 'Until Tomorrow' (Iran) by Ali Asgari
* TV Series - Development
• 'Out of My Mind' (Djibouti) by Mo Yusuf
• 'Why did the Bluesman Cross the Road?' (Lebanon) by Meedo Taha
* Mena - Short Projects - Development
• 'The Line' (Qatar) by Hitmi Alhitmi
• 'I Wished for Solitude' (Qatar) by Hamad al-Fayhani
* Mena - Short Projects - Production
• 'Mary' (Qatar) by Abdulaziz Khashabi and Abdulla al-Janahi
• 'Ebb and Flow' (Lebanon) by Nay Tabbara
• 'Sea Salt' (Lebanon) by Leila Basma
• 'Fariha' (Yemen) by Badr Yousef
• 'Pacific Club' (Lebanon) by Valentin Noujaïm
• 'Lost Memories' (Lebanon, Qatar) by Aya al-Blouchi
* Mena - Short Projects – Post-Production
• 'A Proposal' (Qatar) by Nadia Alkhater