There AFAC is Annual Report 2012 space for more Cover photo: Saba Innab, Visual Arts Grantee at Ashkal Alwan Cover photo: Saba Innab, Visual Arts Grantee at Ashkal AFAC is an independent Arab initiative generously supported by a number of foundations, corporations and individuals in and outside the Arab region. HRH Princess Adila bint Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Abla Lahoud Waleed Al Ghafari Malek & Gail Antabi Amjad & Alya Habbas Huda Kitmitto Saadallah & Lubna Khalil Sheikha Altaf Al-Sabah Amr Ben Halim Fayez & Haifa Takieddine Mohammed Abduljawed Bahia Hariri Sawsan Jafar Khaled Ahmad Juffali Ghazwa Abu Suud Qutaiba Al-Ghanem Omar Ghobash Hani Kalouti Nabil Qaddumi Rana Sadik Walid Youssef Zahid Abbas (Eddy) Zuaiter AFAC is also grateful to a number of donors who prefer to remain undisclosed. 2 Table of Contents Introduction Executive Summary .........................................................................................................5 Message from the Chairman ...........................................................................................7 Message from the Director ............................................................................................. 8 General Grants Program General Grants Statistics ................................................................................................11 General Grants Grantees .............................................................................................. 12 Project Descriptions ....................................................................................................... 19 General Grants Jurors ................................................................................................... 28 Awards Won in 2012 ...................................................................................................... 30 Arab Documentary Film Program ADFP Selection Statistics .............................................................................................. 33 ADFP Grantees .............................................................................................................. 34 ADFP Project Descriptions ............................................................................................ 35 ADFP Jurors ................................................................................................................... 37 Awards Won Cumulatively ............................................................................................ 38 Looking Ahead – ADFP 2013 ....................................................................................... 40 AFAC Express Methodology .................................................................................................................. 43 Applicants ....................................................................................................................... 43 Grantees ......................................................................................................................... 43 Project Descriptions ....................................................................................................... 46 AFAC Express Jurors ..................................................................................................... 50 AFAC Express in the Future ...........................................................................................51 Crossroads Methodology .................................................................................................................. 54 Applicants ...................................................................................................................... 54 Grantees ......................................................................................................................... 55 Project Descriptions ....................................................................................................... 56 Crossroads Jurors .......................................................................................................... 58 Partners .......................................................................................................................... 59 Crossroads Workshops ................................................................................................... 60 Workshop I June 4 – 6, Beirut ............................................................................. 60 Workshop II September 18 – 20, Cairo ...............................................................61 Workshop III December 11 – 13, Dubai ............................................................. 62 Looking Ahead – Crossroads Grantees in 2013 .......................................................... 63 Field Visits Egypt ..................................................................................................................... 66 Tunisia ................................................................................................................... 67 Yemen .................................................................................................................... 68 Libya ...................................................................................................................... 69 Timeline .................................................................................................................71 3 Cultural Advocacy Meetings and Events Art & Patronage Summit, London ....................................................................... 75 Manama Festival of Festivals, Bahrain ................................................................ 75 Sharjah Biennale March Meetings, UAE ............................................................ 75 Salzburg Global Seminars on Cultural Diplomacy in the Digital Age, Austria ................................................................................... 76 Arabic Baltic Music Concert with the Esterhazy Foundation, Austria ............. 76 European Foundations Center Meetings, Belfast, Northern Ireland ................ 76 Good Pitch, London, UK ....................................................................................... 76 Book-signing for emerging playwright and AFAC grantee, Lebanon .............. 76 Brunch honoring Arab filmmakers at the Toronto International Film Festival, Canada ........................................................................................... 76 Arab Foundations Forum Annual Meeting, Cairo, Egypt .................................. 77 Social Justice Seminar, Johannesburg, South Africa ........................................ 77 First AFAC award at Latin Arab International Film Festival, Buenos Aires, Argentina ..................................................................................... 77 Cultural consultations in Copenhagen, Denmark .............................................. 77 Board Meeting and Annual Gala Dinner, Dubai, UAE ...................................... 77 AFAC collaboration with Dubai International Film Festival, Dubai, UAE ........ 78 Communication and Fundraising New Website ......................................................................................................... 80 Grantee Stories ..................................................................................................... 82 Fundraising ........................................................................................................... 82 2013 Outlook.................................................................................................... 83 Board of Trustees ..................................................................................... 84 Team ............................................................................................................................ 86 Financials ............................................................................................................ 88 4 Al-Mazraa: Negotiating Spaces Of Conflict Executive Mohammad Hafeda, Summary The role of culture as a repository of public thought and concerns, ideals and aspirations, as well as a nodal point for questioning the status quo and debating the burning issues of day-to-day life in the Arab region, continues to expand with the help of AFAC’s programs and advocacy. 2012 was a turning point for AFAC; Six years old now and strongly rooted in the Arab region, its outreach has achieved greater impact. A total of 134 arts and culture projects were supported this year with a cumulative grant sum of $2,330,000 USD. Three special programs ran alongside the annual general grant offering professional expertise to their beneficiaries as well as financial support. AFAC has also reached out to the marginalized areas of the Arab region by encouraging participation and applications to its programs from regions where cultural activity has been relatively low. AFAC undertook first-time visits to Libya and Yemen and a series of visits to Egypt and Tunisia. The uprisings of the Arab region have cast a new spin on the role of arts and culture in Arab societies; new spaces, new events and unprecedented opportunities for regional collaborations have emerged among independent institutions and practitioners. Arab artists offered their vision through unique works that thread identity issues, community outlooks and personal experiences into a deeper understanding of the region. Many are gaining recognition at international festivals and art events for their authentic voices, critical perspectives and creative methodologies. General Program