Enjaaz, the production funding initiative of the Dubai Film Market (DFM), has announced seven of the most promising short films by Gulf filmmakers that have been chosen as the recipients of Enjaaz funding.
Widening the choice of Gulf films shown to audiences and supporting a sustainable film industry in the region, Enjaaz was launched in 2009.
To strengthen the support for the production of Gulf short films, Image Nation Abu Dhabi continues to partner with Enjaaz and have collaborated on many of the projects selected this year.
Masoud Amralla Al Ali, Festival Director of GFF commented that Enjaaz is committed to supporting the Gulf’s talented filmmakers and that they’re pleased to be working with Image Nation to provide filmmakers with the resources they require to achieve the desired quality for their films. “We are delighted to see more gripping storylines and artistic innovation every year and we’re pleased to be supporting their journeys,’ he added.
Said Mohamed Al Mubarak, Chairman of Image Nation: “Image Nation is proud to work with Enjaaz to provide up-and-coming filmmakers from the Gulf with the resources and support they need to develop breakthrough work. We look forward to seeing the contributions these filmmakers will continue to make to the growing filmed entertainment industry in the UAE and the region.’
The list includes emerging filmmakers as well as experienced directors:
A Long Night by Kamiran Betasi – Iraq
Bus 321 by Hussain AlMutlaq – The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Who Killed Sarah by Mohamed Al Saber – The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
The Deep by Haider Rashid – Iraq
The Bad Hunter by Sahim Omar Khalifa – Iraq
Souq Al Markazi by Saleh Nass – Bahrain
Bicycle by Aieas Jehad – Iraq
Each year, films supported by Enjaaz are considered for the Gulf Film Festival and the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), and travel to other festivals worldwide. Selected films also have the opportunity to qualify for consideration for the Oscars if they win at the Muhr Arab Shorts competition at DIFF.
Previous recipients of DIFF’s support programme for short films which have achieved international acclaim are: It’s About to Rain by Haider Rashid, Baghdad Messi by Sahim Omar Kalifa and Cotton by Luay Fadhil.
Full-length feature films that received support from Enjaaz’s post-production funding programme are Oscar nominee Omar by Palestinian director Hany Abu-Assad and BAFTA nominee Wadjda by Saudi Arabian filmmaker Haifaa Al-Mansour.
