DOHA: Nine short films will receive funding in the first session of Qatari Film Fund, the new programme to support Qatari filmmakers, Doha Film Institute (DFI) has announced.
The films by Qatari directors and writers comprise six live-action narratives, two animated shorts and a documentary. Four feature films are yet to be announced as part of the first funding cycle.
The nine projects reflect themes, including family relationships, modern fairytales, East-West relations, tales of faith, love and betrayal and the true story of Amer, a legendary racehorse gift to the Emir of Qatar in the 1980s. Documentary, science-fiction, fantasy and family drama feature among the genres.
The fund aims to develop up to four feature films, in addition to developing and producing up to eight short films every year through two application sessions for Qatari directors and writers. At least one of the four feature films in development will be selected the following year for production by the fund through mentoring and financial support. Due to a strong pool of applicants this year, one additional short film project was awarded a grant, bringing the total number of recipients to nine.
Feature film treatments and screenplays at varying levels of progress are eligible for development funds of up to QR182,500 and mentoring opportunities provided by DFI. Short films are eligible for a combined development and production budget of up to QR182,500 and will include mentorship, equipment and production support.
The short films are 1001 Days by Aisha Al Jaidah, A Journey to from Love by Abdullah Al Mulla, Al-Johara by Nora Al Subai, The Doll by Nasser Abdelreda, Nasser by Sheikha Shaikha Mohammed Al Thani, Our Time Is Running Out by Meriem Mesraoua, RED by Kholoud Al Ali, Sh’hab by Amal Al Muftah and Amer, the Arabian Legend: From the Freedom of the Desert to the Glory of the Track by Jassim Al Romaihi.
The Peninsula
