ADFC Shasha Grant shortlist announced

Abu Dhabi Film Commission (ADFC) has announced its shortlist for the 2011 Shasha Grant. It is a $100,000 international screenwriting competition whose winner is chosen by a group of international industry professionals.

 Earlier in 2011, ADFC put out a call for feature film scripts by film makers and script writers from across the Middle East and other parts of the world. Over 40% of the entries were in Arabic and most of the entries are from writers based in the MENA region.

 The initial round of six finalists will be announced later in September. Those finalists will go on to pitch their projects to a jury of industry leaders as part of the final judging. The winning script will receive a $100,000 development grant and the continuing support of The Film Commission to assist the project in securing production financing.

 The 2011 Shasha Grant shortlist includes Maysoon Pachachi and Irada Al Jabbouri for “Nothing Doing In Baghdad” (UAE/Iraq); Ziad Hamzeh for “Asmahan” (Syria/USA); Karim Bensalah for “Red Olive Tree” (Algeria); Mahmoud Al Massad for “Inshalla Istafadet – Blessed Benefit” (Jordan); Khadar Ahmed for “The Grave Digger” (Somalia) ; Amin Matalqa for “Red Valentine” (Jordan/USA); Mai Masri for “3000 Nights” (Palestine); Suhad Khatib for “The Building” (Jordan); Gihan Faisal for “The Gift” (Egypt); Mahmood Aboalela and Farid Fikri for “Adi Alhikaia” (Egypt).

 Speaking about the grant, ADFC director, David Shepheard stated: “The Shasha Grant continues to be an instrumental part of our ongoing efforts to promote emerging talent in the fast-growing Middle Eastern film market and this is part of the overall aim to establish Abu Dhabi as the media hub in the region and support the development of telling Arabic stories through film.”