The MENA Canada Filmmaking Grant is back for its fifth year in a row. This one-of-a-kind funding stream provides a single $5,000 initial or “top-up” fund for new and emerging MENA/SWANA-identifying filmmakers or teams in Canada toward a short film to be presented at MENA!
The winning production will have a full year to finalize its film in time for the 2027 MENA Film Festival. Additionally, the winning team will be invited as special guests to the 2026 MENA Film Festival to take part in programming and networking opportunities to set them off on their filmmaking journey, leading to their premiere at #MENA2027!
We are very excited to announce the winner of the 2025 MENA Canada Filmmaking Grant: “Ahmed” by Sabreen El Awad.
Sabreen is a Sudanese-Canadian filmmaker, poet, and storyteller. Her work explores themes of identity, migration, and collective memory, primarily through film, sound, and her podcast, The Lemon Narrative with Sabreen. She aims to amplify Muslim, Black, and diasporic voices, creating intimate narratives and community-driven projects that blend media art, storytelling, and cultural resilience.
"Ahmed" aims to shift perspectives, giving audiences a glimpse into autistic experiences and challenging the idea of autism as a burden. This film represents the start of my professional filmmaking career and my commitment to centering Muslim, Black, and immigrant narratives within Canadian cinema, proving we belong, not only as storytellers but also as decision-makers shaping the future of film.
