The Cinema grant is open to all kinds of fiction film projects. The program welcomes submissions of short and medium-length narrative films in production and post-production and feature narratives that are in development, production or post-production phases.
The program provides annual grants ranging from a few thousand U.S. dollars up to a maximum of ten thousand U.S. dollars for Development grants, up to fifty thousand U.S. dollars for Production, and a maximum of twenty-five thousand U.S. dollars for Post-production grants.
Eligible Candidates
AFAC only covers project-related expenses (including artist fees up to 30% of the total grant amount). Neither running operating costs nor purchase of equipment can be covered by the grant. The percentage of allocation to artist fees and institutional running costs has been exceptionally raised in 2020 and 2021 to account for the challenges brought about by the spread of COVID-19.
A film producer is eligible to apply with a maximum of two projects per category per cycle provided the two projects are not attached to the same director. However, if a film producer has one open grant, s/he can apply with one project. If s/he has two open grants, s/he is not eligible to apply before closing one grant at least.
Ineligible Candidates
AFAC will not consider applications submitted by:
Members of the Board of Trustees, their business partners or family members.
AFAC staff members, their business partners or family members.
Members of the current year’s readers and jurors’ committees.
Recipients of two consecutive grants unless two years had passed since the last grant (e.g. If a grantee had received two grants in 2017 and 2018, s/he can apply again in 2021).
A director who already has an open grant from AFAC (whether the contract is in her/his name or in the producer’s name).
Each director is entitled to only one application in the same category.
If a director has an application that is in process, s/he cannot submit another application in any category until the result of the current application in process is announced.
If a grantee had received two grants one for development and one for production to the same film project, she/he cannot apply for post-production.
Eligible Expenses
AFAC only covers project-related expenses (including Artist fees). Neither running operating costs nor purchase of equipment can be covered by the grant.
Place and Duration
AFAC will not provide support retroactively, i.e. to projects already completed. For projects that have already started, AFAC will cover the expenses that will occur only after the signature of the contract if the project is selected.
Projects may be implemented anywhere as long as they are created by Arab filmmakers.
The project’s time frame should not exceed 24 months.
How to Apply
Applications are only accepted through our online applications forms available on our website. Applications submitted via regular mail or e-mail will not be accepted.
The applicant will receive a confirmation e-mail once the online application has been received. Applicants are advised to follow up on the full completion and delivery of requested material as AFAC will not contact applicants if any part of their application is incomplete.
Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.
To apply, please login with your username and password. Once you login, open the program page and click on the designated applications link at the top of the page. In case you don’t have an existing account, please create one here.
Please note that the deadline for applications is 1 July 2022 at 5:00 PM (Beirut time - GMT+3).
Please note that we will not be able to respond to any inquiries communicated with us after 30 June 2022.
Preview the Cinema Grant - Application for Development
Preview the Cinema Grant - Application for Production
Preview the Cinema Grant - Application for Post-Production
Supporting Material
If the application is submitted by the producer, make sure to provide samples of the director’s previous works if any.
Applications lacking in supporting material will not be considered for evaluation nor will the applicant be contacted to send the missing material.
If applying for a post-production fund, a rough cut (10 minutes and above for medium-length projects; 25 minutes and above for feature-length projects) is mandatory. A trailer can be sent in addition to the rough cut.
If you are applying for a production fund, you need to submit a script and a treatment of the submitted project.
If you are applying with a project that is partly or fully animated, the submission of a mood board is mandatory.
Supporting files/samples for submitted project and previous works smaller than 10 MB can be uploaded directly to the application.
Supporting files/samples for submitted project and previous works exceeding 10 MB should be included as links to files on sharing websites (such as Dropbox, Vimeo, YouTube…).
For further inquiries regarding supporting material, contact AFAC grants management team.
For all projects, include a detailed budget.