Venice Opens Final Cut 2026 to Arab Projects Seeking Post-Production Support
In Final Cut in Venice 2026, with a focus on Arab countries in the Middle East, new opportunities for production and completion are opening up
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The Final Cut in Venice 2026 program, held as part of the Venice International Film Festival, has a clear focus this year on Arab countries in the Middle East. The program is designed for films that are still unfinished and currently in post-production. Countries such as Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and Yemen are included in this edition. The goal is simple: help these projects move forward and reach completion.
The initiative brings together both direct funding and detailed post-production support. Beyond La Biennale di Venezia’s €10,000 main award, selected films may receive specific services from industry partners. These include colour correction by Laser Film, sound mixing by Studio A Fabrica, film music support from Oticons, visual effects from M74, and cloud archiving by Mnemonica. Technical delivery is also covered through DCP mastering and subtitling by Sub-Ti Ltd. and TITRAFILM, along with accessibility services by Sub-Ti Access. In parallel, distribution and market support is offered by MAD Solutions, while Rai Cinema provides a cash award tied to first negotiation rights for Italian TV. Additional backing comes from Red Sea Film Foundation, El Gouna Film Festival, Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, Cinémathèque Afrique of the Institut Français, Festival International du Film d’Amiens, and Festival International du Film de Fribourg.
Several funding opportunities are dedicated specifically to Arab projects. The El Gouna Film Festival offers a cash award for one Arab project and provides access to the CineGouna market. The Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie supports projects from countries such as Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco, especially at the post-production stage, through reimbursement of eligible services. MAD Solutions also provides minimum guarantee offers for selected Arab films, supporting their path toward distribution.
Full details of each award, service, and eligibility criteria can be found on the official Final Cut in Venice page: https://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/2026/final-cut-venice
Applications are open through the official submission form: https://web9.labiennale.org/finalcut/finalcut22.aspx
Deadline for submissions: 9 June 2026