Abu Dhabi: The 2009 Circle Conference, which took place alongside the Middle East International Film Festival 2009, concluded on Sunday with the gala presentation of the Sasha Grant, which provides $100,000 (Dh367, 000) in production funding to this year’s winner, Saudi director Haifaa Al Mansour for her film Wajda.
Mansour was chosen from among five finalists who came to the Circle Conference to pitch their projects to a jury of industry leaders. Her film Wajda is the story of a free-spirited 11 year-old Saudi girl coming of age in a restrictive society. Abu Dhabi Film Commission will continue to work closely with Mansour to see the project through development and production.
The Shasha Grant runner up, Annemarie Jacir, received a trip to the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) for her project When I Saw You as part of a partnership between Abu Dhabi Film Commission and the MIFF 37 Degrees South Market.
The final day of the Circle Conference also included the first Emirates Skills Training Council Conference, a programme bringing together schools, media production companies and broadcasters from throughout the region to help students connect with opportunities in film and television.
Among the highlights of the conference this year was a landmark panel on Women In Film in the Middle East chaired by Pyramedia CEO Nashwa Al Ruwaini, featuring women filmmakers from around the region. There was also a special seminar Abu Dhabi Film Commission’s Locations Service, a searchable online database of regional locations.
