Cannes 2012: Doha Film Institute Funds 23 Projects

11:42 AM PDT 5/20/2012 by Georg Szalai

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"The submissions reflect the exciting changes happening in the Gulf region at the moment and the huge potential for its growing film industry," said executive director Amanda Palmer.

The Doha Film Institute has picked 23 feature films, documentaries and shorts from the Arab world and North Africa that will receive funding under its twice-yearly grants program.

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In a change from previous years, established directors like Morocco’s Hakim Belabbes and Lebanon’s Dima El Horr are receiving money in addition to emerging directors, the Institute said Sunday.

Funding is going to films from the likes of Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Qatar and Kuwait.
The winning projects take on such topics as Afghan cameleers in Australia, the Arab spring, civil unrest in Tunisia and female soccer player scouts in Libya.

More than 40 projects from more than 10 countries received Institute funding in 2011.

"There is an undeniable increase in the quality, diversity and volume of entries this year," said Institute executive director Amanda Palmer. "The submissions reflect the exciting changes happening in the Gulf region at the moment and the huge potential for its growing film industry and the strength of its creative talent. We’re proud to be able to support and encourage this passionate new wave of storytellers as well as continuing to back more established talent working in the Middle East and Northern Africa region."

Films are eligible for funding at all stages of production – from development, production, post-production to prints & advertising.

Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com

Twitter: @georgszalai