Open Call: SFP5 Short Film Production Grant

Overview

Sharjah Art Foundation invites local and international filmmakers to apply for the fifth edition of Sharjah Film Platform (SFP5) Short Film Production Grant. The recipients will share a total of 30,000 USD; the monetary amount and the number of awardees will be determined on a need-by-need basis. For the purpose of this grant, a short film is defined with a total running time of 50 minutes or less, including the credits. The deadline to submit the application is 11:59 pm UAE time (GMT +4), 31 March 2022, and the grant recipients are expected to premiere their completed films at a future edition of the festival.

Applicants will be assessed on the basis of the original script they submit, their creative and technical skills along with the vision for the final film in terms of plot, genre, theme and structure. The application may be submitted for documentary, experimental and narrative films.

Sharjah Film Platform continues to support the flourishing film scene in the UAE and abroad, welcoming emerging and established filmmakers, producers, distributors, critics and students to celebrate cinema as well as film theory and practice. Since its inaugural edition in 2018, the festival has expanded its programming and seen increased participation from the film community in the region and internationally.

Each year, the festival screens new and exciting films. SFP screens regional and international films selected from the open call, out of competition films and the films awarded by the Short Film Production Grant. Films from the open call as well as the grants are eligible for awards in the documentary, experimental and narrative category for short and feature-length films, selected by international jury members from the film industry.

Alongside the screenings, Sharjah Film Platform also conducts talks, panel discussions, workshops and masterclasses focusing on film theory as well as practical industry skills. Introduced in 2021, the Director in Focus segment showcases the work of an acclaimed filmmaker. Another key feature, the Industry Hub offers resources to filmmakers to support them in realising their projects, from idea to completion, and in reaching wider audiences with their films, regionally and internationally. It also equips filmmakers with the professional tools and knowledge needed to succeed in the film industry and to provide a forum for exchanging ideas, finding future collaborators and receiving valuable feedback.

SFP screenings and events are presented at several Sharjah Art Foundation venues, including the contemporary open-air Mirage City Cinema in Al Mureijah Square and in various locations in the Emirate as well as online.

Requirements

To apply, please complete the application form here and attach your three-minute pitch (Vimeo/YouTube links), original script, budget and production schedule when prompted.

Only one application is permitted per director.

The video should provide the plot, setting and characters for the short film and explain why this film should be selected. The artistic approach, format and content for the three-minute video are open to interpretation; it may show the director explaining his/her vision, a trailer or a compilation of previous works, for example.

Please note that failure to submit the pitch, script, budget and production schedule will result in automatic disqualification.

Any application sent after 11:59 pm UAE time (GMT +4), 31 March 2022, will not be considered.

Past awardees

The recipients of the first Short Film Production Grant were Mohammed Al Hammadi, Maryam (2019); Abdulrahman Al Madani, Laymoon (2019); and Faisal Attrache, From the Mountain (2019).

The recipients of SFP2 grant were Julian Alexander, Laila, at Last (2019), and Emerson Reyes, Children of the Lake (2019).

The recipients of SFP3 were Nadira Amrani, Hajja (2021), Soha Shukayr, Once Upon a Revolution (2020), and collaborators, Pelin Tan and Anton Vidokle, She Who Saw the Deep (2021).

The recipients of SFP4 were Janus Victoria, Myth of Manila (2021), Randa Maroufi, L'mina (2022), and collaborators, Mariam Alserkal and Maaria Sayed, Unveiling Selma (2022).