SANAD Emarati

About SANAD Emarati

Mission

SANAD Emarati is the short film funding initiative of SANAD and the Emirates Film Competition (EFC) under the umbrella of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival (ADFF). SANAD Emarati provides talented filmmakers from the GCC region with meaningful support towards the development and completion of their narrative short films.

SANAD Emarati LogoSANAD Emarati seeks out distinctive and promising projects by Emarati and GCC filmmakers with the aim of encouraging their ambitions to take on more challenging productions and concepts.

Launched on the 10th anniversary of EFC, which continues to be among the most important platforms for showcasing regional filmmakers’ work, SANAD Emarati adds a key element of year-round support for serious regional filmmaking talents.

SANAD Emarati helps filmmakers of selected projects to travel to international film festivals and markets to present their work, connect with professionals and gain exposure to different kinds of audiences.  Selected filmmakers also receive assistance in publicizing their work, finding funding opportunities and submitting their projects to other festivals.

Grants

SANAD Emarati will support up to five projects annually. The grant for each project will be determined according to the project’s needs.

Application Period and Deadlines

The current application deadline is December 1, 2011.
Dates are subject to change.
Apply Here

Films Supported by SANAD Emarati at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival

Each October, ADFF is committed to showing projects supported by SANAD Emarati. Supported films may be selected for the Emirates Film Competition, International Shorts Competition, or for other non-competitive sections.  Selected filmmakers may also take part in the activities of SANADLab.

Rules & Regulations

1. Legal Basis

1.1 Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) is the legal entity of SANAD Emarati (the Fund).

1.2 Utilization of the funds received from ADACH will be audited according to the laws of the United Arab Emirates.

1.3 Entrants agree to be bound by the general Rules & Regulations of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival.

1.4 In order to be eligible for the Fund, entrants must comply with all of the following Rules & Regulations. Applications that fail to comply will be considered ineligible.

1.5 Entrants who are awarded a grant will be required to submit a signed copy of the Warranties and Assurances Declaration, in the form provided by ADACH/ADFF.

2. The following general categories qualify to submit as Entrants:

2.1 Short narratives in development

2.2 Short narratives in pre-production

3. General Requirements

3.1 The director or producer must be a national of one of the eligible countries listed below. A production company from at least one of the eligible countries must also be attached to the project.

3.2 The eligible countries are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.

3.3 Only short narrative projects are eligible.

3.4 The maximum running time of any project is 15 minutes.

3.5  The opening and closing credits of the film, as well as all promotional materials, including but not limited to DVDs, internet, press releases and posters, should contain the following statement:

With the Participation of SANAD Emarati, Emirates Film Competition & Abu Dhabi Film Festival
(ABU DHABI FILM FESTIVAL LOGO IMAGE)

3. 6 ADFF shall have the exclusive right of the world premiere screening at the subsequent edition of ADFF.

3. 7 ADACH/ADFF reserves the right to determine the amount of the grant awarded to each recipient, as well as the payment schedule and method.

3. 8 The Fund’s grants are non-transferable, must solely benefit the projects to which they are awarded and may be rescinded if the director of a selected project changes.

3. 9 The decision to provide assistance to projects is valid for five (5) months.

3.1 0 In order to offer year-round support and to aid in promoting the projects that receive grants, ADACH/ADFF retains non-exclusive non-commercial rights within the UAE to all films it supports. ADFF requires a master copy of the project on DigiBeta or HDCAM as well as on DVD. ADFF also requires copies of all marketing materials for the project. Master copies and marketing materials shall be kept in ADFF’s archive.

4. Selection Process

4.1 Projects will be selected from applications received during the SANAD Emarati’s semi-annual open call for applications.

4.2 Projects will be chosen by a Selection Committee that includes the Abu Dhabi Film Festival programmers and highly qualified film industry professionals.

4.3 The Selection Committee’s principal criteria for choosing projects are content and artistic vision, but the financial plan and overall feasibility of each project are also taken into consideration.

4.4 The Committee’s decision is final.

5. Applications

5.1 Please read through the application checklist before submitting your project. You must complete and submit the online application form and mail in hard copies of all your other application materials.

5.2 Applications can only be processed if all requested materials are received by the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.

5.3 All application forms should be in English or Arabic.

5.4 Scripts and treatments should be submitted in their original language and be accompanied by an English or Arabic translation.

5.5 The complete application form must be submitted online through our website and all supporting documents should be uploaded or sent as part of the submission form no later than the application date.

5.6 All requested application materials must be sent to:

Abu Dhabi Film Festival – SANAD Emarati
Al Raha Theatre, Al Raha Beach Service Road on Abu Dhabi-Dubai Highway
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

5.7 ADACH/ADFF and the Entrant each acknowledge that they are independent contractors and that no partnership, joint venture, agency or employment relationship has or will be created by this Agreement.
 
5.8 Entries will not be considered complete until all of the materials are received.

5.9 All applications must be postmarked within the entry deadline dates.

5.10 All inquiries must be in English or Arabic.

6. All SANAD Emarati applications must include the following:

  • A completed online application form submitted through our website.
  • A cover letter in hard copy with brief details about your project and mailed along with all other materials.
  • Biographies of director(s), producer(s) and (if available) key crew members
  • Contact information for each key crew member (if available)
  • Draft of the script in original language
  • English or Arabic translation of the script
  • Treatment (3 to 6 pages) in original language
  • English or Arabic translation of the treatment
  • Synopsis
  • Director’s statement
  • Two (2) DVD copies of selected previous works
  • Filmographies of the director(s) and producer(s)
  • Development Budget for script and project development
  • Detailed Production Budget with corresponding financial plan
  • Financial plan of the entire production with confirmed financing, if available, including copies of such agreements whenever possible
  • Production schedule

6.1 Applications must be shipped pre-paid, including any duties or customs fees.

6.2 Applications will not be returned and will remain the sole and exclusive property of ADACH/ADFF.