Sharjah24: Sharjah Art Foundation (SAF ) announces an open call inviting UAE-based scriptwriters, directors and lead/executive producers to apply to the Sharjah Film Platform Feature Fund. Formerly the Pitching Forum, the strengthened fund provides more comprehensive and robust support to filmmakers in the country than was available previously.
Offered in conjunction with Sharjah Film Platform—the Foundation’s annual festival of independent cinema and experimental filmmaking—the grant provides up to 500,000 AED for the completion of an English- or Arabic-language feature-length narrative film currently under production.
SAF announced that shortlisted from a wider pool of applicants, five finalists will be invited to attend a closed, in-person meeting in 2025 to present their project to an industry jury. After the pitch, one winning project will be selected to receive funding as the deadline to submit the application is 11:59 pm (UAE time) on 28 February 2025.
Eligibility and submission criteria
• The primary applicant—a scriptwriter, film director and/or lead/executive producer who currently resides in the United Arab Emirates—must submit all required materials.
• The film must be a feature-length narrative in either English or Arabic currently in some stage of production. Shot in the UAE or internationally, the final film must have a runtime of at least 50 minutes.
• Submitted projects must include a minimum of 15 minutes of recorded film rushes (unedited scenes from shooting), a partial or completed pilot, or a rough cut of the film to be considered.
• The applicant must submit a detailed production budget and indicate the specific costs for which the funding will be used. The Feature Fund can support up to 500,000 AED, depending on the budget requirements of the project.
• The film director must have at least one previous director’s credit, which must be demonstrated by submitting a web link or movie file for a completed film. The film can be either a short or a feature. No trailers will be accepted.
2025 Pitch Guidelines
In 2025, the five shortlisted applicants must present their projects in person to an industry jury. The exact dates will be announced at a later time. In this pitch, each applicant will have 20 minutes to present the project, either alone or with team members. A 10-minute Q&A session will follow the presentation.
If the applicant would like someone associated with the project to fly in from outside the UAE and pitch to the jury, that is permitted, but costs must be borne independently. It is up to each applicant to decide how many people will come together for the pitch to the jury.
Application requirements
All of the materials below can be submitted in either English or Arabic:
• Application form (downloadable on the website)
• At least 15 minutes of rushes, pilots or rough-cuts (streaming or download link should be included in the application form)
• Complete English or Arabic feature film script (at least 50 pages)
• Director’s statement (creative vision for the project, minimum 300 words)
• Producer’s statement (vision for the film and intended audience, minimum 300 words)
• Detailed production schedule
• Complete film budget (with a breakdown of how SFP funding will be used)
To apply and learn more about Sharjah Film Platform 7, visit sharjahart.org.
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