The 12 titles, which include features and documentaries from Egypt, Morocco, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan, have been shortlisted from more than 110 entries received from more than 17 countries. The post-production fund selects up to 15 films in production annually to receive up to US$100,000 each to help Arab and Arab-origin filmmakers bridge the gap between production and a screen-ready product.

The shortlist includes experienced and award-winning directors as well as first-time helmers:

Launched in 2009, the Festival’s Enjaaz programme has supported more than 20 Arab and Arab-origin films including Egyptian inner city drama , UAE heritage biopic , Iraqi feature , and Susan Youssef’s romantic interlude , which made its world premiere earlier this month at the Venice International Film Festival and is making its North American premiere at the Toronto festival.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Toronto event, DIFF Managing Director Shivani Pandya said the injection of funds at a critical juncture is one element in the Festival’s multi-faceted approach to building and championing a sustainable Arab film industry at home and abroad. Enjaaz, she explained, is the penultimate element of the Dubai Film Market, which offers script to screen support for filmmakers from the Arab world or of Arab origin around the world.

“When global events like the Toronto, Venice, Cannes and Berlin film festivals pay increasing attention to the Middle East and its cinema, it makes all the work we put into talent development, mentoring, co-production, post-production and trade and acquisitions worthwhile,” Pandya said. “We are very proud of the many DIFF alumni who are taking centre stage at TIFF and festivals around the world.”

The Enjaaz programme works via two funding cycles, with deadlines in February and August every year. The second 2011 shortlist will be announced during the eighth edition of the Dubai International Film Festival, which runs Dec. 7 to 14, 2011.