Dubai film fund awards $1.2m to Arab filmmakers

Dubai has shortlisted 12 Arab movies for funding of up to $100,000 each through Enjaaz, the film production fund of the Dubai International Film Festival, it was announced this week. The film fund shortlisted the dozen films from over 110 entries from 17 countries and the $1.2m funding for Arab filmmakers was announced at the recent Toronto International Film Festival.The dozen titles include features and documentaries from Egypt, Morocco, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan and consists of experienced and award-winning directors, as well as first-time beginners.Launched in 2009, Enjaaz has supported more than 20 Arab and Arab-origin films including Egyptian inner city drama Cairo Exit, UAE heritage biopic Hamama, Iraqi feature Leaving Baghdad, and Susan Youssef's romantic film Habibi Rasak Kharban (Darling, There's Something Wrong With Your Head), which made its world premiere earlier this month at the Venice International Film Festival and is making its North American premiere at the Toronto festival. "When global events like the Toronto, Venice, Cannes and Berlin film festivals pay increasing attention to the Middle East and its cinema, it makes all the work we put into talent development, mentoring, co-production, post-production and trade and acquisitions worthwhile," DIFF Managing Director Shivani Pandya said in Toronto.