Image Nation Abu Dhabi

Overview

Image Nation Abu Dhabi is a media and entertainment company based in Abu Dhabi, UAE, that funds and produces film, television, and digital content with a focus on developing Emirati and Arab filmmaking talent. Unlike a traditional grant fund, Image Nation operates as a production studio that combines international co-productions with local talent development programs. The company does not publish a single open-call grant application for feature film production funding. Instead, it runs structured training programs, script development open calls, and selective co-production partnerships.

Image Nation's current CEO is Ben Ross. In 2025, the company highlighted a slate of projects that placed Emirati creatives in key creative and decision-making roles across film, television, and emerging formats. The studio's 2025 productions included HOBA, which won Best Picture in the horror competition at Fantastic Fest in Austin and screened at the Sitges Film Festival and BFI London Film Festival, and The Plague, the first Abu Dhabi co-produced feature to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.

Image Nation operates training programs under the Arab Film Studio (AFS) brand, a script development open call, and international co-production partnerships through Spooky Pictures. The company also launched the UAE's first Screenlife Accelerator Program in collaboration with filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov.

What It Covers

Arab Film Studio (AFS) Programs

• AFS Narrative: Training program for narrative filmmaking, open to UAE nationals and residents
• AFS Documentary: Training program for documentary filmmaking
• AFS Scriptwriting: Script development program
• AFS Young Filmmakers: Program restricted to UAE nationals
• AFS Mawaheb: Talent development initiative
• Coverage: Hotel accommodation in Abu Dhabi and travel during workshop stages for AFS Narrative, AFS Documentary, AFS Scriptwriting, and AFS Mawaheb participants
• Eligibility: UAE nationals and residents (proof of residency visa required). GCC country citizens who can spend the full program duration in Abu Dhabi are also welcome to apply. AFS Young Filmmakers is open to UAE nationals only

Script Development Open Call

• What it offers: Development support for selected script ideas, with the possibility of advancing to full production as a feature film or TV project
• Minimum commitment: Image Nation plans to develop at least 6 of the most promising script submissions per cycle
• Genres accepted: Comedy, horror, action, romance, drama, sci-fi, anime, and animation
• Content requirements: Stories must reflect Emirati culture or be set in Abu Dhabi
• Eligibility: UAE nationals and residents aged 18 and above. Submissions accepted in English and Arabic
• Submission format: Logline and script treatment through the online application portal

International Co-Productions

• Spooky Pictures partnership: Co-production of genre films with international reach. The Plague premiered at Cannes, and Menace is forthcoming
• Hokum: Upcoming production starring Adam Scott, directed by Damian McCarthy, with scenes filmed in Abu Dhabi's Liwa desert
• Professional development: Emirati filmmakers and executives embedded in international productions. Alia Alqemzi, a development executive at Image Nation, has worked across multiple Spooky Pictures projects

Screenlife Accelerator Program

• What it offers: Structured mentorship and practical training for emerging filmmakers in the Screenlife format (films told entirely through device screens)
• Partners: Launched with filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov
• Eligibility: Includes Emirati participants whose projects advance into further script development

Eligibility

Image Nation's programs have different eligibility requirements:

• AFS training programs: UAE nationals and residents with a valid residency visa. GCC citizens who can attend the full program in Abu Dhabi are eligible for most AFS programs. AFS Young Filmmakers is UAE nationals only
• Script open call: UAE nationals and residents aged 18 and above. Scripts must reflect Emirati culture or be set in Abu Dhabi
• International co-productions: These are selective partnerships negotiated at the company level, not open-call programs. Filmmakers cannot apply directly for co-production funding

Image Nation does not currently publish an open-call grant application for standalone feature film production funding from Arab filmmakers outside the UAE. The historical SANAD fund (administered through the now-discontinued Abu Dhabi Film Festival) provided up to $20,000 for development and up to $60,000 for post-production, with $500,000 in annual funding. SANAD is no longer active in its original form.

How to Apply

1. For AFS training programs: Check the Image Nation website (imagenationabudhabi.com) for current program cycles and application deadlines. Submit proof of UAE residency visa. Programs require full-time attendance during workshop stages in Abu Dhabi.
2. For the script open call: Submit a logline and script treatment through the online portal. Submissions are accepted in both English and Arabic. The open call seeks stories that reflect Emirati culture or are set in Abu Dhabi.
3. For international co-productions: These are not open-application programs. Image Nation identifies co-production partners through industry relationships and its Spooky Pictures partnership.

Who Should Apply

UAE-based filmmakers and writers at various career stages who want structured training, script development support, or production experience. The AFS programs are designed for emerging filmmakers who need hands-on training and mentorship. The script open call is for writers with ideas rooted in Emirati culture or set in Abu Dhabi who want development support with the possibility of production.

Filmmakers from other Arab countries who are not UAE residents are generally not eligible for Image Nation's current programs. The company's focus has narrowed from the broader Arab world (under the historical SANAD fund) to specifically Emirati and UAE-based talent development.

Historical Context

Image Nation Abu Dhabi was established in 2008 as a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Media Company. In its early years, the company operated the SANAD Development and Post-Production Fund through the Abu Dhabi Film Festival (ADFF), which ran from 2010 until the festival was discontinued in 2015. SANAD provided $500,000 annually in grants to Arab filmmakers, with development grants up to $20,000 and post-production grants up to $60,000. Notable SANAD-supported filmmakers included Leila Kilani (Morocco), Jocelyne Saab (Lebanon), and Abderrahmane Sissako (Mauritania).

After ADFF ended, Image Nation shifted its focus toward direct production and co-production rather than open-call grant funding. The company has co-produced films with international partners including Participant Media, National Geographic, and Spooky Pictures. Recent productions include He Named Me Malala (2015), The Wonders (2019), and HOBA (2025).

The Arab Film Studio training programs were launched to build local filmmaking capacity in the UAE, addressing the gap in structured film education and professional development for Emirati creatives.

What Image Nation Does Not Cover

• No open-call feature film production grants for non-UAE-based filmmakers
• No standalone post-production grants (the SANAD model is no longer active)
• Training programs require physical attendance in Abu Dhabi (no fully remote options)
• Script open call is restricted to stories reflecting Emirati culture or set in Abu Dhabi
• International co-productions are not open to direct application

See Also

For understanding international co-production and distribution, see International Film Markets. To plan your feature film budget, use the Production Budget Calculator. For festival strategy when submitting Arab or Middle Eastern films, use the Festival Entry Fee ROI Calculator.