SANAD, the fund from the Abu Dhabi Film Festival that supports filmmakers from the Arab world, has handed out its second round of grants for 2011.

Each year’s SANAD grants are worth $500,000 for development and post production of narrative and documentary features. The second round’s 12 selections brings the 2011 tally to 23 backed projects.

Peter Scarlet, ADFF’s Executive Director, said: “We’ve seen an interesting continuation and development of the trend that we noticed in the first rounds of SANAD: Experimentation, daring artistic choices and bold subjects stand out among this crop of projects. We’re particularly thrilled that a number of films that reflect the vitality of Arab cinema right now will be included in this year’s festival lineup, which we will announce next month.”

“We launched SANAD in response to the lack of funding opportunities from within the Arab world for films from the region. SANAD is now an important source of support for Arab filmmakers, providing a strong platform to present, promote and share their work with the international film community,” said Eissa Saif Rashed Al Mazrouei, Director of Special Projects for ADACH.

“The twelve selected projects come from all over the region including, for the first time, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia and Yemen,” noted Marie-Pierre Macia, Director of SANAD.

Films previously receiving SANAD funding include Leila Kilani’s Cannes Directors’ Fortnight selection On The Plank, and Iraqi feature In My Mother’s Arms which is set for a premiere in Toronto.  

ADFF’s fifth edition will run Oct 13-22.

SANAD second round 2011

Post-Production - Narrative
When I Saw You, by Annemarie Jacir (Palestine/Jordan) [pictured]

Post-Production - Documentary
In Search of Oil & Sand, by Philippe Laurent Dib (Egypt)
After the Last Goal, by Mahdi Fleifel (Lebanon/UK)
Lebanese Rocket Society: The Strange Tale of the Lebanese Space Race, by Joana Hadjithomas & Khalil Joreige (Lebanon/France)
Tahrir Square 2011: The Good, The Bad & The Politician, by Amr Salama, Ayten Amin and Tamer Ezzat (Egypt)

Development - Narrative
Poisonous Roses, by Fawzi Saleh (Egypt)
Nothing Doing in Baghdad, by Maysoon Pachachi (Iraq/UK)
The Wall, by Faouzi Bensaïdi (Morocco)
99, by Hicham Lasri (Morocco)
The Guest, by Naji Abu Nowar (Jordan)

Development - Documentary
The Pirates of Sale, by Merieme Addou and Rosa Rogers (Morocco/UK)
The Wanted 18, by Amer Shomaly (Palestine/France/Canada)

 

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