The International Emerging Film Talent Fund

09/06/2026

Looking forward to being at Sheffield DocFest this week and connecting with documentary storytellers, partners, and colleagues from around the world.

A special shout-out to two of our valued partners, Palestine Film Institute and Dhaka Doclab, who will be presenting their showcases as part of the festival’s industry programme. The Palestine Film Institute Showcase highlights feature documentaries in progress from Palestinian filmmakers, while Dhaka DocLab’s New Stories, Emerging Authors showcase spotlights emerging documentary voices from Bangladesh.

If you’re attending Sheffield, we encourage you to support these sessions and discover some of the exciting projects and filmmakers they are championing.

▪️Palestine Film Institute Showcase
Sat. 13 June
10:00 - 11:15
The Workstation - Creative Lounge

▪️New Stories, Emerging Authors: Showcase of Work in Progress from Bangladesh
Sat. 13 June
15:00 - 15:45
Crucible Playhouse

Wishing both teams a successful showcase, and looking forward to seeing friends old and new in Sheffield.

16/05/2026

✨Sunday! Panel Talk: Scaling Stories: Co-Productions Driving Commercial Growth in the Region

📍 Main Stage
📅 Sunday, May 17th
⏰ 2:00 PM
Arab Cinema Center

Speakers:
— Marco Orsini — Founder, Mojo Entertainment - FILM / The International Emerging Film Talent Fund
— Dhafer L’Abidine — Actor, Director, Writer & Producer
— Ali Jaafar — Head of Films & Global Series, MBC Studios
— Wissam Smayra — Filmmaker, Producer & Founder of Clandestino Films
— Myriam Sassine — Producer, Sarmadi Cinema
— Wareth Kwaish — Filmmaker, Producer & Executive Director of Iraqi Film Fund

Moderator:
— Michael Rosser — Asia & Middle East Editor, Screen International

12/05/2026

“Lastly, on May 15 at the Hotel Canopy, the organizers will present the second edition of “The African and Diasporic Audience Development Think Tank.” Initiated by Yetu (Un)limited in 2025, the traveling think tank combines market research with the co-creation of audience design methodologies for African cinema.

Its pilot edition, which was held in Salvador, Brazil, in partnership with the Mostra de Cinemas Africanos, generated case studies, qualitative audience design frameworks and the first edition of an ongoing publication. The Cannes session, presented with the support of IEFTF, will showcase the Brazil pilot findings and set the strategic framework for a dedicated support platform to grow revenue-generating audiences for African cinema globally.”

▪️Read more in Variety: https://bit.ly/3PBrbnC

🗓️ Friday, May 15 | 10:00–12:00
📍Canopy Hotel by Hilton, Cannes

▪️ Learn more about The Nomadic Film Space: https://www.thenomadicfilm.space

Marché du Film - Festival de Cannes thenomadicfilmspace

The Nomadic Film Space is designed to connect African creative producers with private equity and institutional capital.

07/02/2026

IEFTF has just returned from Rotterdam after a successful first edition of the Safe Harbour programme, launched in collaboration with the International Film Festival Rotterdam - IFFR.

Over two days of workshops, panels and networking, followed by three days of one-to-one meetings at the IFFR CineMart, participants connected, shared ideas and developed their projects in a truly inspiring setting.

Huge congratulations to Noura Adil (Sudan), winner of the New Impulse Award — made possible thanks to the generosity of a private donor. The award (€2,500) supports one of the newly presented Safe Harbour projects.

Learn more about the Safe Harbour programme and its participants: https://bit.ly/4ao5RIM

25/11/2025

We are pleased to announce the TorinoFilmLab Meeting Event IEFTA AWARD – granted by The International Emerging Film Talent Association – consisting of a €3,000 contribution intended for directors from emerging territories, was awarded to the ScriptLab project Hold Me (If You Want) by Mounia Akl (Lebanon). Congratulations to Mounia!

🎞️HOLD ME (IF YOU WANT) by Mounia Akl (Lebanon) – ScriptLab
Lebanon 2025. A bride spirals into madness, seeking love and sanity in a world that lost both.

The TFL Meeting Event – a co-production market that for 18 years has made Turin a crossroads for audiovisual industry professionals – marks the conclusion of a year-long advanced training programme organised by TorinoFilmLab – Museo Nazionale del Cinema and made possible thanks to 41 international partners.

Throughout 2025, 113 writers, directors and producers worked on the development of 48 projects – 39 feature films and 9 TV series – supported by TFL tutors, and in recent days they presented their ideas in Turin before an audience of industry professionals.

28/10/2025

On the way to Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival! Looking forward to connecting with fellow filmmakers, industry professionals, and stories that need to be told. More to come!

▪️ Find information: https://www.ji-hlava.com

09/09/2025

Congratulations to IEFTA alum Zahraa Ghandour / زهراء غندور and her film FLANA being showcased at this year’s 50th Toronto International Film Festival TIFF for its world premiere!

IEFTA selected Zahraa Ghandour for the IEFTA Global Film Expression Initiative Awards at the 2021 El Gouna Film Festival, CineGouna springboard platform and have since been mentoring and supporting Zahraa.

Zahraa Ghandour’s debut chronicles the unexplained disappearances of Iraqi women. Ever since the fateful day her 10-year-old friend and neighbour Nour went missing, Ghandour has been looking for answers. Focusing on the concept of “flana,” an Iraqi term for forgotten or anonymous women, Ghandour links past and present, connecting with her elders and peers while attempting to find her childhood playmate in the context of disappearances that still happen on a weekly basis.

Showtimes:

▪️Tuesday, September 9 | Scotiabank Theatre Toronto | 3:25 PM
▪️Wednesday, September 10 | Scotiabank Theatre Toronto | 6:00 PM

09/07/2025

Congratulations to the team behind “You Don’t Die Two Times” (Algeria, Tunisia, Germany, France) – Directed by Ager Oueslati and produced by Raouf Oueslati, Thomas Kaske & Dhia Jerbi!

“You Don’t Die Two Times” won the IEFTA €6000 cash award for an Arab project in post-production at the Amman International Film Festival - Awal Film Industry Days awards ceremony. Thank you to Marion Schmidt, Documentary Association of Europe for presenting the award on behalf of IEFTA.