OPEN CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR AFAC'S ARAB DOCUMENTARY FILM PROGRAM

The Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC), in partnership with the Sundance Documentary Institute, is launching a second open call for proposals for its Arab Documentary Film Program. Directors and producers with documentary film projects in the script/development or production/post-production stage, whose projects target the Arab region, are invited to send their project proposals.
Applications must be submitted online in English between February 14th and May 13th, 2200 hours (GMT +2). The winners will be announced in July 2011. For further information about AFAC's jury selection process and eligibility requirements, please see the ADFP Guidelines on our website. Films completed before July 1st, 2011 will not be accepted. Please note that we do not fund webisodes, online series, or strictly historical, biographical, or educational films.

About the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC)

The Arab Fund for Arts and Culture is an independent Arab initiative established by local cultural lobbyists and a group of international donors in 2007. AFAC funds individuals and organizations in the fields of cinema, performing arts, literature, music and visual arts, while facilitating cultural exchange and cooperation across the Arab world and globally.
AFAC awards grants through an open and competitive process. These grants are designated to support creative artistic, literary and cultural works, as well as research, trainings and the staging of regional events in the fields of arts and culture. Since 2007, the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture has distributed $3.5 million to 215 projects in six categories. In addition to its General Grant program, AFAC also distributes grants through Special Programs, such as the Arab Documentary Film Program, which was launched in 2009, and the Arab Graphic Novel Program, to be launched early this year.
For more information about AFAC's grant, including the names and projects of all our grantees, as well as the jurors' names, kindly visit the "Our Grantees" section on our website.
About the ADFP
In response to the vast number of very promising cinema proposals received during the open call, AFAC decided to establish an additional program for filmmaking. Documentaries are a popular, culturally resonant and accessible medium in the Arab world, allowing filmmakers to broach current issues as well as investigate the recent past. Partnering with an international institution like the Sundance Documentary Institute provides both the expertise as well as an avenue to connect filmmakers with experienced producers and distributors abroad.
In 2009, AFAC and the Sundance Documentary Institute designed a specific program that provides funding and consultation, networking and training opportunities for documentary filmmakers. Over 145 applicants from the region responded to the first call for proposals. A jury made up of leading regional and international figures selected the top fifteen applicants-both seasoned and up-and-coming filmmakers from across the region-for their pertinent and original proposals.
During the second cycle, AFAC is hoping to see the program expand to become a launching pad for filmmakers, providing them with the financial and professional resources to create influential work that is globally recognized.

About AFAC's Grants for 2011

The grant amount will range according to the submitted project category.
- Up to USD $15,000 for projects in the script and development phase
- Up to USD $50,000 for projects in the production and post-production phase
A selection committee made up of regional and international experts will assess the received proposals and select the winners. The jurors of the selection committee are instructed to evaluate proposals for
- their relevance to the Arab world and their compatibility with AFAC's mission and values;
- the quality and feasibility of the project's objectives;
- the originality and innovation of the proposed undertaking; and
- the realistic nature of the proposed budget.