In a move that is expected to give a big fillip to independent filmmaking by cash-strapped but talented young directors from Asia and the Arab world, Osian’s on Wednesday announced the setting up of a film fund that would provide grants worth up to 25,000 dollars for project development.

To be called “The Film Fund : Osian’s Originating Development” — FOOD in short — the fund would provide grants to 20-25 shortlisted young filmmakers in the first year of its launch itself, said Osian’s Cinematic Pvt Ltd chairman Neville Tuli while announcing the fund.

“The main objective (of setting up the fund) is to allow young filmmakers from India, Asia and the Arab world a new support and platform from which they can articulate their creative vision with greater fearlessness and daring, without having to compromise due to certain financial needs at the most nascent, fragile and idealistic stage of film development,” Tuli said.

Grants ranging from 10,000 to 25,000 dollars would be given for all pre-production expenses, including that required for formulating a final script/screenplay, casting, location reconnaissance, he said on the sidelines of the ongoing 9th Osian’s Cinefan festival of Asian and Arab Cinema.

Osian’s will provide its in-house expertise, if required, to the filmmakers to help develop the project and make the necessary presentations to financiers and producers. Some projects among those selected may even be taken up for production by Osian’s in-house production team. The filmmakers would be selected by Osian’s “scouts” and presented to the “selectors” before the FOOD Board of Directors does the final selection, Mr Tuli said.

, adding that the first projects under this programme would start from January one next year.

Acclaimed director Mani Kaul, who is closely involved with the project, said the aim behind setting up FOOD was to encourage making of “bold films”.

“It is not a question of making a viable or a good film. It is a question of making a bold film that could come from both independent and commercial cinema framework, and could target the mass audience or small, niche audiences,” Mr Kaul said, adding that the concept would be given the final tuning within the next few months.