Daw aims to provide additional support to fast-growing industry Applications open from December 11 LONDON: The Saudi Film Commission has launched a grant scheme dedicated to supporting local productions and talent. The Daw funding program was announced during the Red Sea International Film Festival, which is taking place from Dec. 1 to Dec. 10 in Jeddah. It is designed to stimulate the growth of the Saudi film sector and support private investment in industry. “Daw is part of our continued efforts to encourage Saudi filmmakers and production companies to express their creativity and help us grow the Saudi film industry,” Saudi Film Commission CEO Abdullah Al-Eyaf said. “The commission launched several initiatives over the past few years to develop the sector’s infrastructure and invest in our local talent, because we truly believe in the potential of Saudi filmmakers and production houses and strive to help them show their productions on the global stage.” The new grant is built upon the success of last year’s Daw Film Competition, which saw 30 winners across five film categories. Daw offers financial grants for Saudi-based production companies looking to produce short films or feature films. The program is open from December 11 and will be available for three types of film: fiction, documentaries, and animation. Applications will go through a rigorous four-step evaluation and will be assessed by a committee of leading experts. Earlier this year the commission, a Saudi government body affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, unveiled a cash rebate program that is open for local and international production companies, which will stimulate Saudi filmmaking. The film industry is “one of the most prominent and as well as fastest growing cultural sectors in Saudi Arabia,” said Najla Al-Nomair, chief strategy and business development officer at the Cultural Development Fund. The film commission aims to develop the sector in the country, creating jobs and increasing the industry’s contribution to the economy.