Doha: The Doha Film Institute (DFI) has selected 38 projects by emerging and established Qatari and international directors, including MENA directors from over 15 countries for its Fall 2018 Grants programme.
The DFI Grants programme has evolved as a key initiative for identifying new cinematic voices and talent and discovering universally resonant stories.
“Our Grants programme is focused on supporting the region’s filmmakers to realise their film aspirations. By elevating original voices in cinema, promoting creative interaction and providing creative support throughout the filmmaking cycle, we intend to establish a robust film ecosystem in the Arab world,” said Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Chief Executive Officer of DFI.
For the first time, DFI grants are also being awarded for TV and web series helmed by MENA scriptwriters and directors, with two projects supported in each category, highlighting the Institute’s commitment to support compelling multi-platform storytelling that exemplifies emerging industry trends.
Along with providing support in the key challenge of financial resources, we support networking opportunities and professional guidance to enable global recognition of more filmmakers from our region. This year’s expansion of the programme to include TV and web series acknowledges the importance of embracing new platforms and models. With a diverse range of themes and narrative approaches, this year’s projects have tremendous potential for global impact,” said Alremaihi.
Of the 38 projects selected, three are by Qatari filmmakers – two short narratives and one feature documentary. In all, 18 women filmmakers will receive the grants this cycle. There are also five returning filmmakers who will receive the grants, highlighting the Institute’s commitment to long-term relationships.
Froth by Ilia Povolotskiy.
Marking DFI’s commitment to support powerful projects by established filmmaker, in this cycle, a new film project by Nacer Khemir has been selected for the grants.
As the Palestine Film Unit marks its 50th anniversary, six selected Palestinian projects demonstrate the industry to be as prolific as ever. Lebanon is also strongly represented with seven grantees while projects from Mexico, Lesotho and Russia have been awarded for the first time. Grants are also awarded to filmmakers from Afghanistan, Algeria, Bolivia, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Serbia, Sudan, and Tunisia.
The DFI Fall 2018 Grants programme saw the highest number of applications at 467 this cycle, including 150 applications from non-MENA countries. Eight non-MENA post production projects have been awarded this cycle – a record number as well as eight experimental or essay projects by MENA and non-MENA filmmakers.
The film projects chosen for development grants are Beirut 1931 by Kamal Aljafari; In Vitro by Larissa Sansour; Mama, Where Are You? by Meqdad Al-Kout; Where Did I Leave My Face? by Ramzi Maqdisi; Femmetasia by Mouhssine El Badaoui and You Don’t Die Two Times by Ager Oueslati as well as TV series TCA186: The Tarmac Year by Mohamed Berro and The Vibes by Erige Sehiri.
In Vitro by Larissa Sansour.
The grantees in production stage are Barzakh by Laila Abbas; Costa Brava Lebanon by Mounia Akl; Happy Holidays by Scandar Copti; Mediterranean Fever by Maha Haj; Severed Head by Lotfi Achour; The Alleys by Bassel Ghandour; It’s Far Away Where I Must Go by Karima Saidi; The Dam by Ali Cherri; The Earth Doesn’t Move by Yosr Gasmi; We Are Inside by Farah Kassem; Zyara by Muriel Aboulrouss; The Closet Sessions by Ahmad Satti Ibrahim; Al-Sit by Suzannah Mirghaniis; Border by Khalifa Al-Thani; The Bath by Anissa Daoud; The Bystander by Rachel Aoun, and This Haunting Memory That Is Not My Own by Panos Aprahamian.
The film projects in post-production stage chosen for the Grants are Sanctorum by Joshua Gil; Sirena by Carlos Piñeiro; Froth by Ilia Povolotskiy; Loving Wallada by Nacer Khemir; Movement by Nadir Bouhmouch; The Forbidden Strings by Hasan Noori,; The Marriage Project by Atieh Attarzadeh and Hesam Eslami; The Waiting Bench by Suhaib Gasmelbariin; Mother, I Am Suffocating.
This Is My Last Film About You by Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese; Speak So I Can See You by Marija Stojnic; To The Ends Of The Earth by Hamida Issa; What We Left Unfinished by Mariam Ghani; and Me, Myself, and AI by Maha Al Jefairi.
