SANAD Mentors

During the two-day SANADLab, our mentors work intensively with SANAD grantees in one-on-one sessions, guiding the filmmakers through the process of refining scripts and treatments, the conceptual aspects of their projects, and the practicalities of getting their films ready for production.

Hala Alabdalla was born in Hama, Syria. She graduated from Damascus University with a degree in agricultural engineering and went on to study cinema at the University of Paris VIII. She began her career as an assistant director for Osama Mohammed (Stars in Broad Daylight, 1988) and Mohammad Malas (Al-Lail, 1992).Her films include Hey! Don’t Forget the Cumin (2008), I Am the One Who Brings Flowers to Her Grave (2006) and On the Sand, Under the Sun (co-director, 1998). Alabdalla served as a SANAD mentor in 2010.

Licia Eminenti is a director and scriptwriter. She has been in charge of international sales for Gemini Films, a reader for Arte France Cinema and a project manager for Eurimages. Since 2008 she has served as a creative script advisor for development platforms including the Sarajevo Film Festival and Script East in Poland. She has been involved in the development of around 30 scripts. Her short films include Intimisto (2001), La Petite Fille (2003) and Fraternitas (2007). Her feature script Via castellana bandiera is in production with director Emma Dante.

Isabelle Fauvel launched Initiative Film in 1993. Based in Paris, the consultancy agency provides assistance with all film development issues. Earlier, Fauvel worked for Flach Film, where she co-produced Jean-Claude Lauzon’s Léolo, Dai Si Jie’s China, My Sorrow and Nouri Bouzid’s Bezness. She has contributed to Medea, Aristote, MFD, IFIC, Mediterranean Film Crossing Borders and MFI in Greece. She has also launched training programs and given master classes all around the world. Fauvel is the author of Developing a Film Project and 180 Scriptwriter CVs.