The Doha Film Institute is organizing a special screening series, ‘Spotlight on Independent Indian Cinema’ at the Museum of Islamic Art auditorium, as part of its DFI Cinema programming to highlight the rise of the independent movie scene in India that has been slowly but steadily gaining acclaim over the last couple of years. Movies from this off-beat genre circumvent the traditional Bollywood formula of song and dance, and are often helmed by emerging talent and independent voices searching for edgier subject matter that have a wider appeal beyond its intended borders.

Part of the series on 11^th and 12^th of November shines a light on the resurgence of the parallel cinema movement in India, with films from celebrated auteurs and new-age filmmakers passionate about the craft, and the importance of content and storytelling. The line-up includes revered master Satyajit Ray’s celebrated classic ‘Charulata’ (‘The Lonely Wife’), considered to be a trailblazer for the country’s parallel cinema movement that was at its peak in the 60’s, ), to ‘2014 Venice Filmmaker of the Future’ recipient Chaitanya Tamhane’s impeccable ‘Court’, and the inspiring family-friendly ‘Kaaka Muttai’ (The Crow's Egg) by M. Manikandan.

‘Court’ (2014) screening on 11^th November at 07:30 PM, is the directorial debut of Chaitanya Tamhane, and features a cast of newcomers in the film that examines the Indian legal system through the trial of an ageing folk singer at a Sessions Court in Mumbai. The film premiered at the 2014 Venice International Film Festival, where it won the Best Film in the Horizons category and the Luigi De Laurentiis (Lion of the Future) award for Tamhane. The film went on to win 18 other awards at film festivals, including honours at the Mumbai, Vienna, Antalya, and Singapore film festivals and is India's official submission for the 88th Annual Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category.

‘Kaaka Muttai’ (The Crow's Egg, 2014), screening at 04:00 PM on the 12^th of November, is the debut feature of M Manikandan who wrote, directed and filmed the Tamil comedy-drama. Jointly produced by superstar Dhanush and director Vetrimaaran, the story revolves around two slum children of Chennai, Tamil Nadu whose desire is to taste a pizza. The Crow’s Egg, an amusing, energetic and occasionally poignant film had its world premiere at the 39th Toronto International Film Festival, where it received widespread acclaim for its story and cast performances.  It went on to win two National Film Awards at the 2015 ceremony including Best Children's Film and Best Child Artist.

Rounding off the programme at 07:00 PM on the 12^th of November is ‘Charulata’ (The Lonely Wife, 1964) by one of world cinemas great masters, Satyajit Ray. Charulata, Ray’s twelfth feature and his favourite, is considered a singularly accomplished song to love, idealism, heartbreak and disillusionment. Satyajit Ray’s exquisite story of a woman’s artistic and romantic yearning takes place in late nineteenth-century, pre-independence India, in the gracious home of a liberal-minded, workaholic newspaper editor and his lonely wife. Based on a novella by the great Rabindranath Tagore, Charulata is a work of subtle textures, a delicate tale of a marriage in jeopardy and a woman taking the first steps toward establishing her own voice.

Charulata won Ray his second Silver Bear for Best Director in a row at the 15th Berlin International Film Festival in 1965. He had won the same award in the previous year for Mahanagar. Charulata also won the Golden Lotus Award for Best Film at the Indian National Film Awards in 1965.

For more details and box office information, please visit: www.dohafilminstitute.com

In line with their commitment to support emerging local talent and nurture young creative voices, Vodafone Qatar has joined hands with the Doha Film Institute as a Signature Sponsor and Official Telecoms Partner for the third edition of the Ajyal Youth Film Festival.

Running from November 29th to December 5th at Katara Cultural Village, the Institute’s annual celebration of cinema brings together the entire community for an unmissable event that inspires creative interaction through film in a fun and collaborative environment. In addition to extending financial support, Vodafone will also assist with community outreach and marketing initiatives to raise further awareness of the annual event through SMS offers, in-store promotional activities, exclusive access to Festival information for Vodafone customers and screenings of the 2015 Ajyal trailer at Villagio and City Center Cinemas.

Speaking about the partnership, Kyle Whitehill, Chief Executive Officer of Vodafone Qatar, said, “Vodafone Qatar is committed to supporting community development initiatives that contribute to the growth of Qatar’s arts and creative industries. The 2015 Ajyal Youth Film Festival provides us with a unique opportunity to connect with the nation’s youth, one of our key audiences, and their passions through the universal appeal of cinema. Ajyal helps unlock young people’s creative potential and supports the development of creativity based on knowledge and learning. I would like to congratulate the Doha Film Institute team for all their efforts and thank them for making us a part of their success story.”

Fatma Al Remaihi, CEO of Doha Film Institute, said, “Both Vodafone Qatar and the Doha Film Institute share a combined vision to promote our nation’s young talent and offer them dedicated platforms for creative expression. The Ajyal Youth Film Festival, in a very short span of time has secured the allegiance of leading organisations in Qatar, who represent excellence in their respective industries. The support of our partners enables us to enhance the Festival experience and deliver a cultural event that we can all be proud of. We are delighted to have Vodafone Qatar on board for the 2015 Ajyal Youth Film Festival, and we look forward to working together as partners for many years to come.”

The partnership enables Vodafone Qatar to give their customers special access to the festival, especially the young members of their Falla Club. Designed exclusively for audiences under 24 years of age, Falla club offers youth in Qatar benefits that include free data bonus, a buy-one get-one free cinema ticket and standard snack combo on every Vodafone Tuesday offer. The third Ajyal Youth Film Festival consists of daily public screenings of local and international films; family days; special events and exhibitions; the Sandbox interactive digital playground; school screenings; and the Doha Film Experience – Ajyal’s youth jury, where hundreds of young people between the ages of 8 and 21 will watch and discuss shorts and features and decide on the winning films.

For more information on the movie timings and the Ajyal Youth Film Festival, log onto www.dohafilminstitute.com.

Qatar Museums (QM) is pleased to announce that it has brought on three new partners as part of its hugely successful arts and cultural membership programme Culture Pass, which draws together a wealth of cultural experiences on offer across Doha.

The three partners have been announced as:

• The Doha Film Institute – an independent, not-for-profit cultural organisation which supports the growth of the local film community by enhancing industry knowledge, cultivating film appreciation and contributing to the development of sustainable creative industries in Qatar;
• Amlak– a wholly owned subsidiary of Qatar Foundation managing business units and providing integrated Asset Management and Operation solutions in the Real Estate and Hospitality & Leisure industries;
• Nuqat– a non-profit organisation based in Kuwait City that is dedicated to the development of creativity in the Arab world.

Among the many great benefits already on offer, Culture Pass members will now be offered free and discounted tickets all year round to Doha Film Institute events, including its Ajyal Youth Film Festival, regular year-round screenings and Qumra event. Amlak will offer a range of discounts at some of its hotel and restaurants including an extra night’s stay at Al Shaqab Hotel. In addition, Nuqat will offer Culture Pass members discounts on all Nuqat workshops and activities, which include training programs and cultural entertainment in both Arabic and English covering topics in visual, therapeutic, commercial and performing arts in addition to creative entrepreneurship.

Commenting on the new partnerships, Sheikha Nouf Mubarak Saif Ahmed Al Thani, Acting Head of Membership at Qatar Museums, said: “Under the visionary guidance of our chairperson, Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, it gives us great pleasure to partner with these three leading organisations in Qatar to give our valued Culture Pass members even more benefits to enjoy. These new partnerships will encourage further cultural exchange and inspire a culture of creativity and innovation across Qatar.”

Under the visionary guidance of its chairperson, Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Culture Pass programme has successfully established itself in Qatar since it was launched in May 2014, and in February Qatar Museums celebrated welcoming its 10,000th member to this arts and cultural membership programme. The tailored programme offers members the chance to experience exclusive benefits linked to diverse cultural activities across Qatar. Members receive a huge range of benefits including access to workshops that develop creative skills and explore exhibition themes; dedicated newsletters with all the latest on Qatar’s arts and culture scene; opportunities to attend exclusive, VIP exhibition openings; private tours of galleries and discounts of up to 15% at QM cafes, gift shops and selected sites.

Doha Film Institute CEO Fatma Al Remahi said: “We are delighted to partner with Culture Pass alongside other leading cultural organisations in Qatar. Culture Pass allows its users to fully embrace the burgeoning cultural scene in Qatar and all of us at the Doha Film Institute look forward to welcoming Culture Pass holders to our dynamic roster of film events throughout the year.” The Culture Pass Programme is free of charge and open for all to enjoy. The programme is aligned with Qatar Museums’ vision of enriching the lives of all those who live in and visit Qatar, as well as inspiring an indigenous culture of creativity and innovation.

For more information about the Cultural Pass Programme and how to become a member, please visit http://www.qm.org.qa/en/culturepass

Leading local and regional organisations, government entities, media houses and educational bodies have confirmed their overwhelming support of the third Ajyal Youth Film Festival, the annual celebration of cinema organised by the Doha Film Institute from November 29 to December 5 at Katara. Fatma Al Remaihi, Chief Executive Officer of the Doha Film Institute and Director of the Ajyal Youth Film Festival thanked the partners for their support of the festival and its mission.

“The success of the festival owes a great deal to the support extended by our partners, who have been instrumental in helping us deliver a better festival every year. The Ajyal Youth Film Festival is an event that gives each one of us more reason to be proud as residents of Qatar. The year-on-year success of the event speaks to the efforts that go into creating a unique and accessible cultural event for all residents, and defines the creative fabric of our community. The support of our partners has been invaluable in allowing us to create enriching experiences for our festival-goers and we look forward to developing long-lasting relationships for our continued growth and mutual benefit.”

Katara Cultural Village Foundation continues as the Cultural Partner, and Occidental Petroleum Corporation has re-confirmed its support as the Principal Partner for the third year running, reiterating the company’s commitment to supporting local development initiatives. The festival welcomes two new Signature Sponsors, Tarsheed, as official Sustainability Partner and Vodafone Qatar, as official Telecoms Partner. The Contributing Sponsors include Aspire Zone Foundation, Ministry of Youth & Sports, SONY and Fifty One East - Official Electronics Partner, Novo Cinemas and the St Regis Doha - Official Hotel Partner. Al Jazeera Media Network, Qatar Television and QF Radio are on board as the Gold Media Sponsors, with Qatar Television screening live updates of all the action at the Festival.

The 2015 Friends of the Festival include Aspire Katara Hospitality, Culture Pass by Qatar Museums, Entube Center, FNAC Qatar, Franck Provost – Official Hair Stylist, Giffoni Experience – Official Festival Partner, MAC Cosmetics – Official Makeup Sponsor, Northwestern University in Qatar, Qatar Animation Centre, Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, Rayyan Water – Official Water Sponsor, The Youth Company and the Translation and Interpreting Institute at Hamad bin Khalifa University.

The third Ajyal Youth Film Festival will consist of daily public screenings of local and international films; the popular ‘Made in Qatar’ section dedicated to showcasing home-grown talent from Qatar; SONY Cinema Under the Stars; family weekend; the Doha Giffoni Youth Media Summit; special events and exhibitions; the Sandbox interactive digital playground; school screenings; and the Ajyal Competition, where hundreds of young jurors between the ages of 8 and 21 will watch and discuss shorts and features and decide on the winning films..

For more information on the movie timings and the Ajyal Youth Film Festival, log onto www.dohafilminstitute.com.

The third annual Ajyal Youth Film Festival, presented by the Doha Film Institute, will once again celebrate the talents of Qatar-based filmmakers through its popular Made in Qatar section featuring 17 films screening across two programmes on Wednesday 2^nd December at 7:00pm and Friday 4^th December at 7:00pm at Katara. This year’s Made in Qatar section, presented with the support of Tarsheed, will shine a spotlight on the work of Qatari filmmakers, and those who call Qatar home featuring nine narrative shorts and eight documentaries, some from returning filmmakers and others by new voices in the Qatari filmmaking community.

A jury of three eminent figures from the local and regional industry will determine the winners of the competitive section with two awards being presented for Best Short Narrative Film and Best Short Documentary Film. The 2015 jury members are: film producer Bassam Al Ibrahim (Qatar), who is the CEO of Innovation Films and co-founder of ILoveQatar.net; film actress, director and producer, Ahd (Saudi Arabia), internationally renowned for her performance in Haifaa al-Mansour’s ‘Wadjda’; and respected veteran journalist and media personality, Marcel Ghanem (Lebanon).

Fatma Al Remaihi, Chief Executive Officer of Doha Film Institute and Festival Director of Ajyal Youth Film Festival, said: “It has been another productive and inspiring year for filmmaking in Qatar and this year’s Made in Qatar selection indicates the rapid growth and diversity that we are witnessing in the Qatari film industry. We have seen a significant increase in documentary filmmaking over the past year and for the first time, the section will include creative documentaries and several personal essay films alongside the narrative shorts which cover themes around family, coming-of-age and comedic dramas as well as the immensely popular horror and suspense genre films.”

“Made in Qatar is well and truly established as a highlight of our Festival and we look forward to welcoming festival-goers to our annual celebration of homegrown talent to enjoy the work of emerging and established talent we have here in Qatar. I am delighted to welcome our esteemed Jury members and thank them for their participation in this flagship section of our Festival. I would also like to acknowledge Tarsheed for their support in presenting these screenings – their commitment to the development of our creative community is to be commended.”

The films in the 2015 Ajyal Youth Film Festival Made in Qatar section are:

Made in Qatar Programme 1, Wednesday 2^nd December

To My Mother by Amina Al Bloshi

Light Sounds by Karem Kamel

Her Majlis by Najla Al Khulaifi, Dana Al Mesnad and Nayla Al Thani

The Palm Tree by Jassim Al-Rumaihi

Yellow Nights by Abdulla al Mulla

If They Only Knew by Sana Al-Ansari

Heart of the House by Gabrielle Sol

The Notebook by Amna Albinali

Made in Qatar Programme 2, Friday 4^th December

Charlie by Ali Ali

Immortalizing Memories by Mostafa Sheshtawy

Asfoora by Mayar Hamdan

Good as New by Jaser Alagha

I Choose Islam by Noor Al-Tamimi, Silma Suba and Zac J. Hollo

Mariam by Zainab Ayon

Time by Yassine Ouahrani

Man of the House by Khalifa AlMarri

Veganize It! by Khalid Salim

Tickets for the Made in Qatar screenings are free of charge but should be reserved through the Ajyal box office which opens on November 16. Visit www.ajyalfilm.com for more details.

The third annual Ajyal Youth Film Festival will be held from Nov 29 – Dec 5 at Katara. The programme consists of daily public screenings of local and international films; the popular ‘Made in Qatar’ section dedicated to showcasing home-grown talent from Qatar; SONY Cinema Under the Stars; family weekend; the Doha Giffoni Youth Media Summit; special events and exhibitions; the Sandbox interactive digital playground; school screenings; and the Ajyal Competition, where hundreds of young jurors between the ages of 8 and 21 will watch and discuss shorts and features and decide on the winning films. The full programme will be announced on November 9 and tickets go on sale on November 16.

For more information on the movie timings and the Ajyal Youth Film Festival, visit www.ajyalfilm.com.

The third annual Ajyal Youth Film Festival, presented by the Doha Film Institute, will host a range of activities at its ‘Creativity Hub’, designed to entertain, educate and inspire creativity & innovation.

The ‘Ajyal Creativity Hub’ will offer guests an opportunity to explore an out-of-cinema experience, helping them discover the latest in technology, the media arts and world cultures. Running from 30 November to 5 December, the Ajyal Creativity Hub will host specially curated workshops, performances and fun activities devised to spark the imagination and promote creativity. Key components of the Ajyal Creativity Hub, which is free for the public to attend, include the popular Sandbox digital exhibition space, Family Weekend activities, and the festival’s special 2015 initiative - Geekdom: Video Game Exhibition.

Geekdom: Video Game Exhibition is a special initiative for Ajyal 2015 that celebrates gaming and links video games to cinema with screenings and panels that discuss the impact of visual storytelling in contemporary media. The exhibition features a gaming lounge and a space for Qatari collectors and video-game lovers to share their interest with others. Participants include the Qatar Animation Centre, The Gaming Lounge, AnimeQtr, the Qatar FIFA Players, Khalasta Gaming and the Youth Hobbies Center.

Some of the other fun activities at the exhibition include an Ajyal Superhero Film Hunt, an Ajyal FIFA Tournament, Ajyal Cosplay Competition and a Game Development Workshop and Ajyal Pitchathon amongst others.

The Sandbox, running from 30 November to 5 December, is a unique interactive environment that provides hands-on access to the latest digital gadgets and technologies. A festival favorite of the past two editions, The Sandbox creates an exciting atmosphere for people of all ages featuring futuristic installations, educational games, apps and cool new tools. Some of the fun activities planned at Sandbox this year include creating graffiti with water, music with sticky notes and creating an immersive virtual world for participants. Additionally, to celebrate 120 years of cinema, Sandbox at Ajyal Creativity Hub will allow participants to recreate their favorite movie moments within the interactive playground.

The Ajyal 2015 Family Weekend offers a host of fun and creative activities for the entire family and people of all ages to engage in. From 3 to 5 December, community members are invited to a weekend of fun focusing on environmental and healthy lifestyle activities. The Ajyal Family Weekend also offers a playground of giant games, face-painting stations, 5D Cinema Simulator experience, a TV studio, musical concerts and cultural performances from around the world. Some of the highlights include a performance by the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura, featured in the documentary Landfill Harmonic, a jazz rendition by nine-year old Norwegian YouTube sensation and cine-concert of live music by Festival Tout-Petits Cinema to accompany four short animated films.

The third annual Ajyal Youth Film Festival consists of daily public screenings of local and international films; the popular ‘Made in Qatar’ section dedicated to showcasing home-grown talent from Qatar; SONY Cinema Under the Stars; family weekend; the Doha Giffoni Youth Media Summit; special events and exhibitions; the Sandbox interactive digital playground; school screenings; and the Ajyal Competition, where hundreds of young jurors between the ages of 8 and 21 will watch and discuss shorts and features and decide on the winning films.

For more information on the movie timings and the Ajyal Youth Film Festival, log onto www.dohafilminstitute.com.

The box office for the third annual Ajyal Youth Film Festival opens today (November 16), with two public locations and online sales available for movie lovers to purchase tickets to screenings, panels, and special events. The Festival will run from November 29^th to December 5^th.

To accommodate the increase in Festival activity, and to provide easier access to Festival tickets, movie fans and Festival-goers can now purchase tickets from the Ajyal FNAC Ticket Outlet located in Lagoona Mall in addition to the Ajyal Katara Main Box Office located in Katara Building 12. The Ajyal Katara Main Box Office will be open from 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM from November 16th-27th, and from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM from November 28th to December 5th. The Ajyal FNAC Ticket Outlet will be open from November 16th to December 5th from 2:00 PM till 9:00 PM.

Tickets can also be purchased securely online through the Festival’s website at ajyalfilm.com. The website is a valuable source of information for all things Ajyal, including synopses of all the Festival’s offerings, daily schedules, venue information and Festival news. Tickets are priced at QR 25 for regular screenings, and QR 40 for premium screenings (including the opening and closing night films). Doha Film Institute is pleased to offer QM Culture Pass members a discount of QR 5 on all regularly priced Festival screenings and events when they present their QM Culture Pass at any Festival ticket outlet. Pass holders can purchase up to two discounted tickets per screening.

All Festival screenings and events will take place at Katara, with venues including the Katara Drama Theatre and the Katara Opera House located in Building 16, Katara Building 12 (Theatres A & B) and the SONY Cinema Under the Stars located on the Katara Esplanade. Ajyal will also offer many free events during the Festival. Free screenings and events presented in Festival venues require a ticket for admission. Free tickets may be reserved online or requested at any ticket outlet location. All events at the SONY Cinema Under the Stars are free to the public, and do not require a ticket for admission.

The Festival programme consists of daily public screenings of local and international films; the popular ‘Made in Qatar’ section dedicated to showcasing home-grown talent from Qatar,free screenings at the SONY Cinema Under the Stars,Family Weekend, the Doha Giffoni Youth Media Summit, Geekdom: Video Game Exhibition, the Sandbox interactive digital playground,school screenings, and the Ajyal Competition, where hundreds of young jurors between the ages of 8 and 21 watch and discuss shorts and features and decide on the winning films.

For more information on the movie timings and the Ajyal Youth Film Festival, log onto www.dohafilminstitute.com.

With the third annual Ajyal Youth Film Festival around the corner, the Doha Film Institute hosted a special event that brought together Ambassadors from 20 countries in Qatar, to stimulate increased links between the Institute and the local diplomatic community. The networking event was held in the presence of HE Dr. Hamad Bin Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari, Qatar’s Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage and was attended by Ambassadors of the United States, Korea, Spain, Switzerland, India, Georgia, Netherlands, Japan, Brazil, Palestine, France, Portugal, Canada, Mexico, Bulgaria, Belgium, Sweden, UAE, UK and Argentina.

The 2015 Ajyal Youth Film Festival, scheduled from November 29^th to December 5^th, will screen films from 36 countries. The programme consists of daily public screenings of local and international films; the popular ‘Made in Qatar’ section dedicated to showcasing home-grown talent from Qatar; SONY Cinema Under the Stars; family weekend; the Doha Giffoni Youth Media Summit; special events and exhibitions; the Sandbox interactive digital playground; school screenings; and the Ajyal Competition, where hundreds of young jurors between the ages of 8 and 21 will watch and discuss shorts and features and decide on the winning films.

For more information on the movie timings and the Ajyal Youth Film Festival, log onto www.dohafilminstitute.com.

Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) is set to participate in this year’s Ajyal Youth Film Festival, part of the Doha Film Institute (DFI), and will host two booths throughout the seven-day event scheduled to take place from 29^th November to 5^th December 2015 at Katara Cultural Village. ‘Ajyal’, which means generations in Arabic, is a platform for people of all ages to come together to discuss cinema through a range of interactive events, creating a fun, collaborative environment where young people can express themselves.

As a ‘Friend of the Festival’, Qatar Foundation will take part in the annual celebration of cinema, along with ‘Gold Media Sponsor’ QF Radio, by hosting an array of family-friendly activities at its tent entitled ‘Explore the World of Media’. Designed to bring the community together and inspire creative interaction, QF’s participation is in-line with its mission of nurturing an enriched, engaged, and vibrant society while fostering local talent and enhancing cultural appreciation.

QF Radio will host three-days of live coverage during the Festival, airing interviews with participants and representatives. The QF Radio booth will also act as a training studio for children who wish to learn how to be presenters and sound operators, and participants will be given the chance to record greetings, which QF Radio will broadcast after the event. Additionally, Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q) and Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar (VCUQatar) will host a programme of events aimed at engaging the youth of the region, presenting unique opportunities for young people to learn more about the media industry.

The Festival, which drew up to 60,000 people last year, will hold daily public screenings of more than 80 local and international films for all age groups, including comedy and documentaries; family days; special events and exhibitions; and the ‘Ajyal Competition’. The competition will see a specially selected jury consisting of young people from around the world determine the winners of long and short films in six categories and three age groups. 

The Doha Film Institute unveiled highlights of its industry programme today as part of its third annual Ajyal Youth Film Festival line-up.

A series of panels & masterclasses, industry workshops and networking sessions form part of the third Doha Giffoni Youth Media Summit, which will take place during the three day industry programme scheduled from November 30^th– December 2^nd 2015 at Katara Cultural Village. One of the main highlights of the sessions will be a panel titled “Children in Conflict Areas: Empowering Youth to Share their Stories”, a ticketed event open to the public. The session will focus on how young people’s lives around the world have been disrupted by socio-political conflict, illness and poverty, and highlight the importance of film and media as tools to help children share their stories.

Panellists include photojournalist Matthew Cassel; Charlotte Giese, the Danish Film Institute’s specialist advisor for youth and children; Mr. Mohammed Abu Asaker, Public Information Officer from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ Middle East and North Africa Bureau; Essa Al Mannai, Executive Director of Reach Out to Asia, and Farooq Burney, director of Education Above All’s Al Fakhoora programme.

The third instalment of the summit, which takes place alternately in Doha and Giffoni, will welcome more than 40 delegates from 31 countries around the world to participate. The international collective of like-minded organisations was formed out of the Doha Film Institute’s ongoing partnership with the Giffoni Experience, with the aim to create an international network of film and media industry leaders and organisations working with young people through film and media.

Sharing a common goal to engage and enrich the lives of young people, summit delegates will discuss ideas and share knowledge and experience in a forum focused on tackling the challenges of the rapidly changing media sphere, and help guide the next generation of creative minds in the way they experience the world. Doha Giffoni Youth Media Summit workshops will focus on neurocommunication – how to harness the brain’s decision-making processes, and digital communication through a panel “The Digital World: How to Speak the Language of Youth” with speakers including social media expert and Entube Brand Ambassador, Yuri Drabent and entrepreneur and celebrity instagrammer, Max Stanton.

Fatma Al Remaihi, Chief Executive Officer of Doha Film Institute and Ajyal Youth Film Festival Director, commented, “Our diverse industry programme this year tackles a variety of timely and relevant subjects. We are particularly proud to be hosting an important session on how film and media can empower children affected by conflict. In light of the ongoing conflicts throughout our own region and beyond, it is more important than ever to highlight the importance of culture as a tool to create a better world for our youth. This topic has been raised in our previous gatherings so am I am very pleased to offer our delegates an opportunity to build on this discussion even further with the added insight of specialists with first-hand knowledge in this area.”

Giffoni Experience Director Claudio Gubitosi said: "The Doha Film Institute and Giffoni Experience have promoted this mutual project with the clear idea that the road to knowledge is fundamental to fullfill the needs of humanity. Our mission appears even more fortified with the participation of organisations from challenged and conflict areas of the world. The Summit held in Giffoni last July was aimed at creating collaborative projects among the members of the Planet-Y network. On this occasion in Doha we shall explore the possibilities to go one step further and draw a road map for the future. Strengthening, integrating and developing a shared strategy can only make our sometimes complex task easier. I would like to thank Fatma Al Remaihi and her team who have worked with great passion to make this event possible.”

The third annual Ajyal Youth Film Festival will be held from Nov 29 – Dec 5 at Katara. The programme consists of daily public screenings of local and international films; the popular ‘Made in Qatar’ section dedicated to showcasing home-grown talent from Qatar; SONY Cinema Under the Stars; family weekend; the Doha Giffoni Youth Media Summit; special events and exhibitions; the Sandbox interactive digital playground; school screenings; and the Ajyal Competition, where hundreds of young jurors between the ages of 8 and 21 will watch and discuss shorts and features and decide on the winning films.

For more information on the movie timings and the Ajyal Youth Film Festival, visit ajyalfilm.com.

In the run up to the third Ajyal Youth Film Festival, the Doha Film Institute hosted its annual gathering for the Qatari creative community, to acknowledge and encourage nationals associated with the filmmaking and creative industries in Qatar.

The event brought together over 120 home-grown talents who have contributed to the growth and development of the industries, strengthening Qatar’s rich cultural fabric and regional presence within the art and cultural space. The event also unveiled highlights of the upcoming Ajyal Youth Film Festival and invited them to actively participate in the Festival, and support the next generation of local creative talent. A key highlight of the evening was a special tribute to the late Mohammed Lingawi, a popular children's television host and performer who has inspired generations of Qataris with his talent and will always be remembered for his kindness, integrity and commitment to the development of the local film scene.

Headlining key events planned for the 2015 Ajyal Youth Film Festival are the premiere screenings of four diverse films supported by the Doha Film Institute including the Middle East Premiere of The Idol, from Academy Award-nominated Palestinian filmmaker Hany Abu-Assad, world premiere of animated feature film Bilal, the regional premiere of Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya’s outstanding debut feature Very Big Shot and the Middle East premiere of Yared Zeleke’s first feature Lamb, Ethiopia’s official entry to the 88^th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film and the first Ethiopian film to screen at the Cannes Film Festival where it premiered earlier this year.

Raising the curtain on the 2015 Ajyal Youth Film Festival, The Idol (Palestine, UK, Qatar, Netherlands/2015) screening on 29^th November tells the inspirational true story of Mohammad Assaf, an amateur singer from Gaza, who became a worldwide sensation after winning the live-singing competition Arab Idol in 2013. Director, Hany Abu-Assad and Arab Idol champion Mohammed Assaf, whose life story the film is based on, will attend the opening night in Doha on November 29th and will also participate in a special ‘In Conversation’ session on 30th November. The talented duo will provide an in-depth discussion about bringing Assaf’s life story to the big screen and highlight the power of combining music and cinema and the challenges facing Arab artists today.

Very Big Shot (Lebanon, Qatar/2015) from Lebanese first-time feature director and Doha Film Institute grantee Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya, is a dark comedy that takes a sly look at organised crime and political corruption. The film premiered at 2015 Toronto Film Festival and screened in competition at the 59th BFI London Film Festival. The film screens as part of the Bader competition segment at Ajyal for jurors aged between 18 and 21. The team of filmmakers and the main cast will be in Doha for the gala screening along with renowned current affairs journalist Marcel Ghanem who makes a cameo appearance in the film playing himself.

Lamb (France, Ethiopia, Germany, Norway, Qatar/2015) by Yared Zeleke, screens on December 1^st and 5^thas part of the feature films competing in the Hilal section at Ajyal, and is a beautifully crafted portrait of a young Ethiopian boy trying to find his way in the world.

The festival will come to a close with the world premiere of, Bilal (UAE/2015), a new animated feature film by Dubai-based Barajoun Studios. Involving creative talents from 22 countries, Bilal by Directors Ayman Jamal and Khurram Alavi is an inspiring adventure story of faith, hope and self-discovery.

The third annual Ajyal Youth Film Festival will be held from Nov 29 – Dec 5 at Katara. The programme consists of daily public screenings of local and international films; the popular ‘Made in Qatar’ section dedicated to showcasing home-grown talent from Qatar; SONY Cinema Under the Stars; family weekend; the Doha Giffoni Youth Media Summit; special events and exhibitions; the Sandbox interactive digital playground; school screenings; and the Ajyal Competition, where hundreds of young jurors between the ages of 8 and 21 will watch and discuss shorts and features and decide on the winning films.

For more information on the movie timings and the Ajyal Youth Film Festival, visit ajyalfilm.com 

The 2015 Ajyal Youth Film Festival, presented by the Doha Film Institute, opens tonight (November 29) at Katara with the Middle East premiere of The Idol, from Academy Award-nominated Palestinian filmmaker Hany Abu-Assad.

The third edition of the annual cultural event which runs from 29^th November to 5^th December will screen 80 films from 36 countries along with 50 public screenings and a range of interactive panels, masterclasses and workshops designed to educate, engage and entertain. Director Hany Abu-Assad and Arab Idol champion Mohammed Assaf, whose life story the film is based on, will attend the opening night activities and will also participate in a special ‘In Conversation’ session on 30th November. Assaf will give a special performance to opening night guests in the Katara Opera House where he will perform a selection of his well-known songs along with new tracks written especially for the film.

The festival will come to a close with the world premiere of, Bilal, a new animated feature film by Directors Ayman Jamal and Khurram Alavi, involving creative talents from 22 countries. The Ajyal Family Weekend will feature the Middle East Premiere of Pixar Animation Studios latest release, The Good Dinosaur in Cinemas December 10 in 3D, also included in the line-up along with one of the final anime sensations from Ghibli Studios, When Marnie Was There.

Other Middle East premieres at the Festival include Berlin Film Festival Golden Bear-winner, Jafar Panahi’s Taxi, Doha Film Institute grantee Lamb by Yared Zeleke and Cannes ‘Un Certain Regard’ opener An, by Japanese director Naomi Kawase. 2015 Ajyal will also mark the Qatar premiere for Tigers by Bosnian director Danis Tanović and the gulf premiere of Mia Madre by Italian director Nanni Moretti. The Festival will once again celebrate the talents of Qatar-based filmmakers through its popular Made in Qatar section presented with the support of Tarsheed featuring 17 films including nine narrative shorts and eight documentaries.

The competition line-up at Ajyal 2015 comprises feature films from 20 countries and a series of short film programmes. More than 500 young people from the ages of 8 to 21 who make up the Ajyal Competition Jury will watch and analyse a dynamic programme of films under three competitive sections – Mohaq, Hilal, and Bader – followed by discussions and events including panels, workshops and Q&A sessions with filmmakers. The Jury includes a delegation of 24 international jurors who will travel to Doha for the event from 12 countries including Australia, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, Italy, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Serbia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

The ‘Ajyal Creativity Hub’ will offer guests an opportunity to explore an out-of-cinema experience, helping them discover the latest in technology, the media arts and world cultures. Running from 30 November to 5 December, the Ajyal Creativity Hub will host specially curated workshops, performances and fun activities devised to spark the imagination and promote creativity. Key components of the Ajyal Creativity Hub, which is free for the public to attend, include the popular Sandbox digital exhibition space, Family Weekend activities, and the festival’s special 2015 initiative – Geekdom: Video Game Exhibition.

For more information on the movie timings and the Ajyal Youth Film Festival, visit ajyalfilm.com

Putting the spotlight on young Arab talent and highlighting its commitment to promoting the next generation of filmmakers, the third Ajyal Youth Film Festival, presented by the Doha Film Institute, marked a colourful start at Katara. Until Dec. 5, the festival will host the screening of 80 films from 36 countries including a showcase of 17 films ‘Made in Qatar.’

The third Ajyal Youth Film Festival flagged off with the Middle East and North Africa premiere of The Idol (Palestine, UK, Qatar, The Netherlands; 2015), directed by Academy Award-nominated Hany Abu-Assad, bringing the inspiring life story of ‘Arab Idol’ champion Mohammed Assaf to the big screen. The opening red carpet gala welcomed Hany Abu-Assad, Mohammed Assaf, the film’s producers Ali Jafaar and Amira Diab, cinematographer Ehab Assal and a range of acclaimed filmmakers and local and regional celebrities. 

The Ajyal Film Competition’s 520 young jurors also participated in the opening ceremony at the Katara Opera House. Over the week, they will watch and analyse a dynamic programme of films under three competitive sections – Mohaq, Hilal, and Bader – followed by discussions and events including panels, workshops and Q&A sessions with filmmakers.

Developing Creativity of the Next Generation

At the opening ceremony, His Excellency Dr. Hamad Bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, Minister of Culture, Arts & Heritage, said: “Ajyal Youth Film Festival is an initiative that brings great value to our community. It was created to bring people of different generations together through cinema and the first two editions have made a positive impact on the lives of many people. Telling our stories through film allows us to connect as a community, to share our perspectives and to generate cultural dialogue within our society. Ajyal gives great importance to developing the creativity of the next generation.”

Fatma Al Remaihi, Festival Director and CEO of the Doha Film Institute, added: “This year, we pay tribute to the 120-year history of cinema. While the changes over the years have been vast and groundbreaking, here we are - still coming together in a dark room with a big screen for the perfect cinematic experience. Over the next seven days, we will make our own history through the films of Ajyal. Audiences young and old will experience films that will delight, inspire, entertain and move them.”

She added: “Alongside a dynamic selection of the best films from around the world, the Ajyal Youth Film Festival also celebrates the extraordinary talent emerging in Qatar with two special programmes of films in the Made in Qatar section. Our film screenings as well as a range of special events, exhibitions, digital installations, outdoor screenings live performances, panels and family weekend activities defines Ajyal as a truly community oriented event that also nurtures the next generation of talent.” 

Doha Film Institute Chief Administrative Officer Abdulla Al Mosallam said: “Over the past two editions we have welcomed hundreds of young jurors, screened countless films, welcomed filmmakers and stars from all corners of the globe and brought memorable cinematic experiences to audiences young and old. The focus of Ajyal is films for and about young people but our programme has something for cinema lovers of all ages.”

Youth and positivity

Earlier, addressing a press conference to introduce The Idol, Fatma Al Remaihi said: “Hany Abu-Assad is one of the most distinctive filmmakers from the Arab world and we are honoured to open our festival with the regional premiere of this captivating and accomplished film, which epitomizes optimism and youthful energy.

“The Doha Film Institute has been involved right from its production stage as a co-financier of the project. Mohammed Assaf’s incredible story in the hands of a great filmmaker like Hany Abu-Assad is a winning combination. Ajyal is dedicated to inspiring our younger generation, to open them up to new perspectives on the world around them and encourage their creativity. The Idol is thus a perfect film that embodies hope and positivity for our youth.”

Hany Abu-Assad said: “The most difficult obstacle in making the film was to adapt reality into drama that would resonate with audiences. Even though Palestinians in Gaza are living in a very difficult situation and there is destruction all over the Arab region, which is traumatising and shocking, they still go to work, school and they live everyday life with love and humanity which transcends every ugliness and darkness, Gaza is inspirational for humanity because despite all their troubles they have not lost their humanity.”

Mohammed Assaf said: “Seeing my story personally was amazing – more importantly the story carried many aspects – not just about my life but about the difficulties and plight of Palestinians in Gaza. It’s a story of hope and is inspirational for young people not just in Palestine but for Arab youth. It teaches us to persevere, have hope and to realise our dreams; the film is a story of positivity that the people of Gaza have not given up hope despite the suffering.”

A producer of the film Amira Diab added: “It was very important for Hany to have the children in Gaza in the movie. They have their own energy and presence, they are self confident. The children in the film have witnessed two wars in their lives and so they are fearless and very confident and we wanted to convey that.” The third annual Ajyal Youth Film Festival consists of daily public screenings of local and international films; the popular ‘Made in Qatar’ section dedicated to showcasing home-grown talent from Qatar; SONY Cinema Under the Stars; family weekend; the Doha Giffoni Youth Media Summit; special events and exhibitions; the Sandbox interactive digital playground; school screenings; and the Ajyal Competition.

The Ajyal Katara Main Box Office will be open from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM until December 5th. The Ajyal FNAC Ticket Outlet will be open until December 5th from 2:00 PM till 9:00 PM. Tickets can also be purchased securely online through the Festival’s website at ajyalfilm.com. Tickets are priced at QR 25 for regular screenings, and QR 40 for premium screenings (including the opening and closing night films). QM Culture Pass members get a discount of QR 5 on all regularly priced Festival screenings and events when they present their QM Culture Pass at any Festival ticket outlet. Pass holders can purchase up to two discounted tickets per screening.

For more information on the movie timings and the Ajyal Youth Film Festival, log onto www.dohafilminstitute.com.

The third Ajyal Youth Film Festival, presented by the Doha Film Institute, brings a selection of captivating movies from across the world today (Tuesday, December 1) including films that are recipients of the Institute’s grants programme.

Among the screenings today is the regional premiere of Very Big Shot (Lebanon, Qatar; 2015), a Doha Film Institute grant recipient, which is the directorial debut of Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya. A bold and insightful dark comedy that skewers political corruption and the media circus that goes with it, Very Big Shot depicts the lives of three brothers – Jad, who serves five years behind the bards for a crime committed by his elder brother Ziad, and their middle brother Joe. A delivery for a local crime ring spins out of control and Ziad seizes the opportunity to make a fortune. The film will screen at 7 PM at Katara Opera House (K16 –OH).

Also a recipient of the Doha Film Institute grant, Lamb (France, Ethiopia, Germany, Norway, Qatar; 2015), is a coming-of-age drama about nine-year-old Ephraim, directed by Yared Zeleke. After his mother dies, his father sends him to stay with his extended family in southern Ethiopia. The youngster’s sole comfort is his late mother’s sheep Chuni but when his uncle demands that the animal be slaughtered, Ephraim devices a plan to save the sheep. The film screens at 9 PM at Katara Drama Theatre (K16-DT).

A deeply moving Tagalog film Scarecrow (The Philippines; 2015) will screen at 9.15 PM at Katara 12 Theatre B. Directed by Zig Madamba Dulay, the film explores the complicated relationship of social injustice, privilege and familial expectations through the eyes of Belyn, who is widowed, illiterate and terribly poor. She lives with her three children in a poor town; when a gold watch goes missing, her son is presumed to be the culprit. Afghan drama Mina Walking (Canada, Afghanistan; 2015), directed by Yosef Baraki, screens at 8.30 PM at Katara 12 Theatre A. The film charts the life of 12-year-old Mina, who is saddled with caring for her senile grandfather and supporting her layabout father by selling trinkets on the streets of Kabul. When one fateful decision starts a chain of events she cannot control, Mina finds herself backed to a corner.

Directed by Robert Connolly, Paper Planes (Australia; 2014) screens at 6 PM at Katara Drama Theatre. An endearing celebration of talent and encouragement, the film soars through a tale of friendship, creativity and the precious bonds of family and community through the life of 11-year-old Dylan. When he discovers his exceptional talent for creating paper planes, he becomes obsessed with his hobby and competes at the national level. Soon he is on the way to the world championships in Japan but only if he can come up with the money to get there.

Ajyal Youth Film Festival commences the first free outdoor screening on Tuesday under the SONY Cinema Under the Stars programme. Watch for free The General (USA; 1926), a silent film that is considered one of the best action-adventure comedies of all time. It stars silent-film-era icon Buster Keaton as Johnnie, a love-struck train engineer. A spy hijacks a track his fiancée is on board and Johnnie gets the chance to fulfil his dream of being a hero. The screening is at 8 PM at Katara. Only limited seating is available.

Festival-goers can purchase tickets for all screenings other than  ‘SONY Cinema Under the Stars’ from the Ajyal FNAC Ticket Outlet located in Lagoona Mall in addition to the Ajyal Katara Main Box Office located in Katara Building 12. The Ajyal Katara Main Box Office will be open from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM until December 5th. The Ajyal FNAC Ticket Outlet will be open until December 5th from 2:00 PM till 9:00 PM. Tickets can also be purchased securely online through the Festival’s website at ajyalfilm.com.

Tickets are priced at QR 25 for regular screenings, and QR 40 for premium screenings (including the opening and closing night films). QM Culture Pass members get a discount of QR 5 on all regularly priced Festival screenings and events when they present their QM Culture Pass at any Festival ticket outlet. Pass holders can purchase up to two discounted tickets per screening. For more information on the movie timings and the Ajyal Youth Film Festival, log onto www.dohafilminstitute.com.

On the second day of the third Ajyal Youth Film Festival, presented by the Doha Film Institute, the young jurors of the festival had the opportunity to interact with Academy Award nominated director Hany Abu-Assad and the ‘Arab Idol’ champion Mohammed Assaf.

This followed the festival’s opening gala of The Idol (Palestine, UK, Qatar, The Netherlands; 2015) by Hany Abu-Assad, which charts the story of Assaf. Young jurors of Hilal, and Bader, two of the three in-competition segments at the Ajyal Youth Film Festival, interacted with Abu-Assad and Assaf, probing them on the film and their views on cinema. Urging them to work hard, Abu-Assad said the success of any film depends on a well-written story, good acting, strong technical detailing and treating the movie with a humanitarian perspective. He told the jurors that The Idol is an inspirational story of hope and optimism, and while it reflects the suffering of thousands of Palestinians, it also shows that they have the right to accomplish their dream of living peacefully and fulfilling their aspirations.

Responding to the request of the jurors, Assaf sang a traditional Arabic song that was received standing applause. The young jurors also had a photo opportunity with Assaf and Hany Abu-Assad. For more information on the movie timings and the Ajyal Youth Film Festival, log onto www.dohafilminstitute.com.

The first screenings in the ‘Made in Qatar’ programme of the third Ajyal Youth Film Festival, presented by the Doha Film Institute, will be held today (Wednesday, December 2, 2015) at 7 PM at Katara Drama Theatre (K16-DT). While 17 films are part of the home-grown series of films highlighting the talent of Qatari filmmakers and those who call Qatar home, the first screenings include eight of the short films, with the second screenings to be held on Friday, Dec. 4 at 7 PM, followed by the awards ceremony.

Presented with the support of Tarsheed, the ‘Made in Qatar’ films will be evaluated by a jury comprising Saudi Arabian actress and filmmaker Ahd; multi-award winning television host Marcel Ghanem; and award-winning film producer Bassam Al-Ibrahim. The showcase of shot films on Wednesday includes Heart of the House  (English, 2015) written and directed by Gabrielle Sol that takes a behind-the-scenes look at the Oryx Rotana, revealing diverse stories and dreams of people from 37 countries who are building new lives for themselves in Qatar.

Her Majlis (Arabic/English, 2015) directed by Sama Abduljawad, Najla Al Khulaifi, Dana Al Mesnad and Nayla Al Thani, takes viewers to the heart of the women’s Majlis, an important element of many Qatari households, to explore the history of these gathering places. Written and directed by Sana Al-Ansari, If They Only Knew (Arabic, 2014) depicts how the follies of youth can haunt us even as time passes through the story of Ahmed, an insomniac. Light Sounds (English, Sinhalese; 2015), written and directed by Karem Kamel is about two Sri Lankans who work as cleaners at a mosque in Qatar, reminding us that every face might hide an unrecognised talent.

The Notebook (Arabic, 2015), written and directed by Amna Al-Binali, is a diarist film that explores the limits of personal boundaries and the complicated dynamics of inner lives through the life of Nora who is trying to make a film for the first time. The Palm Tree (No dialogue, 2015), directed by Jassim Al-Rumaihi is an observational documentary that shows how unnatural nature can be and unearths the science fiction in reality.

Directed by Amina Ahmed Al Bloshi, To My Mother (Arabic, Hindi; 2015) is a tribute to her mother who is now accomplishing her dream of getting an education just when her youngest child began his studies. The final film in the showcase on Wednesday is Yellow Nights (Arabic, 2015), written and directed by Abdullah Al Mulla about a chance encounter that has the power to alter not just the course of a young man’s life but also an elderly man who finds himself at similar crossroads in life.

Also on Wednesday at 3.30 PM at Katara Drama Theatre, the Doha Giffoni Youth Media Summit will host a discussion on ‘Children in Conflict Areas,’ that centres on how film and media content creation can assist children to share their stories. The speakers include: Matthew Cassel, an US-based photojournalist; Charlotte Giese, Specialist Advisor for Children & Youth at Danish Film Institute in Denmark; Firas Kayal, Senior External Relations Officer, Bureau for the Middle East and North Africa at UNHCR; Essa Al Mannai, Executive Director, Reach Out to Asia; and Farooq Burney, Director of Al Fakhoora Education Above All. The session will be moderated by Firdoze Bulbulia, an award-winning producer, director and trainer.

Ajyal Youth Film Festival will also mark the screening of Taxi Tehran (Iran, 2015), directed by Jafar Panahi, one of the world’s most influential filmmakers, at 10 PM at Katara Drama Theatre. In this film, Panahi places himself in the driver’s seat of a cab and takes passengers to their destination, as they speak of their troubles and expectations.

Written and directed by Naomi Kawase, An (Japan, France, Germany; 2015) will screen at 8 PM at Katara Opera House. It is a delicate story of two wounded souls who come together and inspire one another to let go of the past. Walls (Spain; 2015), directed by Pablo Iraburu and Migueltxo Molina, will screen at 8.30 PM at Katara 12 Theatre A. It follows subjects on both sides of three contemporary borders to explore what these walls stand for today.

Also watch Celestial Camel (Russia, 2014), directed by Yury Feting, shot on location in the south-western region of Russia using the local Kalmyk people as actors, charting the heart-warming adventures of a young sheepherder. The film will screen at 9.15 PM at Katara 12 Theatre B. In free public screenings under the SONY Cinema Under the Stars programme, watch the genius of Charlie Chaplin with Modern Times (USA, 1936) at 8 PM at Katara. With his bowler hat, cane and little moustache, Chaplin’s Little Tramp plunges a factory into hilarious chaos after the mind-numbing assembly line job drives him to a nervous breakdown.

Festival-goers can purchase tickets for all screenings other than ‘SONY Cinema Under the Stars’ from the Ajyal FNAC Ticket Outlet located in Lagoona Mall in addition to the Ajyal Katara Main Box Office located in Katara Building 12. The Ajyal Katara Main Box Office will be open from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM until December 5th. The Ajyal FNAC Ticket Outlet will be open until December 5th from 2:00 PM till 9:00 PM. Tickets can also be purchased securely online through the Festival’s website at ajyalfilm.com.

Tickets are priced at QR 25 for regular screenings, and QR 40 for premium screenings (including the opening and closing night films). QM Culture Pass members get a discount of QR 5 on all regularly priced Festival screenings and events when they present their QM Culture Pass at any Festival ticket outlet. Pass holders can purchase up to two discounted tickets per screening.

For more information on the movie timings and the Ajyal Youth Film Festival, log onto www.dohafilminstitute.com.

The third Ajyal Youth Film Festival, presented by the Doha Film Institute, will highlight the power of music and film to conserve the environment and make the world a better place to live in.

Today (Thursday, December 3, 2015), the festival will host the screening of Landfill Harmonic (USA; 2015), directed by Brad Allgood and Graham Townsley at 7.30 PM at Katara SONY Cinema Under the Stars, followed by a concert by members of the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura. Entry is free to the public. The Recycled Orchestra has a fascinating story, with all its instruments produced using materials found in the vast expanse of a landfill in the small town of Cateura, which is the dumping yard of some 1,500 tonnes of garbage daily from the Paraguayan capital city of Asuncion.

Families in the town sort through the trash collecting recyclable materials to sell. The young people had few viable options for living besides working in the dump, and the cycle of poverty appeared endless until a small gesture changed their lives. Favio Chavez, who came to work in Cateura, began to offer music lessons but it was a formidable task as buying even a violin would cost more than a house. A brainwave hit him, and he joined with a local carpenter to produce musical instruments from recycled materials.

The Recycled Orchestra has today gained international acclaim and has performed onstage with the likes of Megadeth and Metallica. Allgood, an award-winning filmmaker, and Townsley, an anthropologist and documentary maker, joined hands to make  Landfill Harmonic, a film that tracks the astounding rise of this community youth orchestra. The event also marks the start of the Ajyal Family Weekend activities, offering an array of delightful and creative activities for parents, children and people of all ages. Apart from the Recycled Orchestra, activities include nine-year-old Norwegian YouTube sensation Angelina Jordan singing jazz standards on Dec. 4 and 5, and the Festival Tout-Petits Cinema presenting a cine-concert of live music to accompany four short animated films on Dec. 4.

For more information on the movie timings and the Ajyal Youth Film Festival, log onto www.dohafilminstitute.com.

Two films supported by the Doha Film Institute have won top honours at the ninth Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA), which recognise and promote the cinematic excellence and cultural diversity of the vast Asia Pacific region.

The Idol (Palestine, UK, Qatar, The Netherlands; 2015) directed by Academy Award-nominated Hany Abu-Assad, and co-financed by the Doha Film Institute, won the APSA UNESCO Award for outstanding contribution to the promotion and preservation of cultural diversity through film. The Idol was the opening gala of the Doha Film Institute’s third Ajyal Youth Film Festival earlier this week, with both Abu-Assad and ‘Arab Idol’ champion Mohammed Assaf, on whose life the film is based, in attendance.

Frenzy (Turkey, France, Qatar; 2015), a recipient of a Doha Film Institute grant in the Spring 2014 session, directed by Emin Alper, won the APSA International Jury Grand Prize for writing and directing. A political thriller set in Istanbul, the film is about Kadir, who is released after a 15-year prison term and finds a job as an informant. Frenzy was a project participant in the first edition of Qumra earlier this year - the Doha Film Institute’s new industry programme dedicated to the development of emerging filmmakers.

Further, Kirin Kiki, one of the most influential actresses in Japan, won the award for Best Performance by an Actress for her role in Naomi Kawase’s An (Japan, France, Germany; 2015). The film has its Middle East premiere in Doha this week at the third Ajyal Youth Film Festival where Kiki is in attendance with fellow actor Masatoshi Nagase and writer Durian Sukegawa. Kiki is the first Japanese actress to win the honour in the nine-year history of the event.

Fatma Al Remaihi, CEO of the Doha Film Institute and Ajyal Youth Film Festival Director, said: “It is a great honour for the Doha Film Institute that films we supported have gained top recognition at APSA. These awards recognise the best in one of the most vibrant film producing regions and we are honoured to have played a part in bringing these projects to fruition. I offer my heartfelt congratulations to the teams behind The Idol and Frenzy and to Kirin Kiki on receiving this prestigious accolade.”

Commenting on the award, Abu-Assad said: “Thank you dear jury for this great honour, giving us the UNESCO Award is a courageous decision at this time. The world seems to lose hope in the future. The Idol is a film about hope and our job as an artist is to keep believing in a better future. Our main job is to let people believe in making the world better, and to believe yourself that you can make a difference.” The APSA awards recognise and promote cinematic excellence and cultural diversity of the world’s fastest-growing film region comprising 70 countries and areas, 4.5 billion people, and responsible for half of the world’s film output. In 2015, 39 films from 22 Asia Pacific countries and areas received APSA nominations.

For more information visit  www.dohafilminstitute.com.

Conflicts, economic inequality and physical or mental challenges limit the involvement of a large section of youth in film and other cultural pursuits. The third Ajyal Youth Film Festival, presented by the Doha Film Institute, underlined efforts to address this by taking Planet-Y, a path-breaking initiative launched in 2014, to its next level. Planet-Y was conceptualised at the first Doha Giffoni Youth Media Summit, hosted by the Doha Film Institute in partnership with Italy’s Giffoni Experience, in Doha last year. The project was unveiled at the second Summit held in Giffoni, Italy, in July 2015.

Now, at its third edition at the Ajyal Youth Film Festival, Planet-Y has assumed tangible shape with the roll-out of five projects: One Platform, Many Voices – the Planet-Y Video Channel, a speciality media channel by and for youth; The Magic Box – An Educational Radio Station for Syrian Children; Content is King – a Youth Production Programme; Nomadic – a Festival Cooperation and Exchange Programme; and Film Fun in Bed – a Hospital Outreach Programme. Discussions on Neuro-Communication – How to speak the language of the brain; and The Digital World – how to speak the language of youth, were also held. Over 40 delegates from across the world took part in the Summit with the common goal of engaging youth and enriching their lives.

Fatma Al Remaihi, Festival Director and CEO of the Doha Film Institute, said: “Planet-Y emerged from the need to identify a collective, industry-wide strategy to tackle the myriad challenges in the media sphere. Through our workshops, we aimed to combine the experiences and wisdom of the Summit participants to create concrete takeaways and action plans. The deliberations of Planet-Y have the power to shape the lives of children, and subsequently our own. Because in helping others we make our own lives meaningful.”

Doha Giffoni Youth Media Summit aims to make the Planet-Y projects beneficial for youth, said Al Remaihi. “We will follow up on each project and keep them growing. Next July at Giffoni, we will report back on the progress that was made. Many of these projects will take time, but I already see the collaborations coming out of the Summit now as a victory for Planet-Y.” Claudio Gubitosi, Director and Founder of Giffoni Experience, said that young people are the first victims of conflict, and through the Doha Giffoni Youth Media Summit’s Planet-Y, the creative community is taking tangible action to address the problems faced by youth globally.

Describing himself and the mission of the Summit as to be ‘producers of happiness and well-being,” Gubitosi said the time has come to act, not just think and pay lip-service to bright ideas that can bring positive change. “We have to stand together to find practical solutions through a culture of dialogue and knowledge exchange. Planet-Y will help keep up with the ongoing cultural, social, economic and political evolution of younger generations,” said Gubitosi.

Children in Conflict Areas

In addition to the five projects under Planet Y, the Doha Giffoni Youth Media Summit discussed the challenges faced by ‘Children in Conflict Areas,’ and how they can be empowered to share their stories. “Children in Conflict Areas’ emphasised on giving voice to less fortunate youth. We want to focus on ways of including children who are not able to attend events such as Ajyal—because of conflicts, economic inequality, or physical and mental challenges. In the context of the global refugee crisis, now, more than ever, it is the time for inclusivity,” said Al Remaihi.

The discussion was an emotional experience for the participants with heart-touching visuals and stories of the Syrian refugee crisis taking centrestage. Presenting searing stories from the refugee camps, Mohammed Abu Asaker, Public Information & Communications Officer of UNHCR, choked on words as he narrated the story of a man who refuses to go home until late into night for fear of facing his children. He reiterated the gravity of the refugee situation with the number of displaced people increasing to 42,500 per day now compared to 10,900 in 2010, the result of 15 wars that the world witnessed or continue to rage since the past five years. Adding that children pay the price for this, with 51% of all displaced people being below the age of 18, he said the crisis is unprecedented and the worst since the World War II.

Essa Al Mannai, Executive Director, Reach Out to Asia, explained the work of the organisation in making a tangible difference, including adult literacy trainings, youth leadership programmes and those designed to benefit students and teachers. Recounting a programme that ROTA conducted four years ago and how it transformed a participant’s life, Al Mannai said that it is such positive stories that keep him inspired. He added that international human aid to promote education is critical.

Matthew Cassel, an independent multimedia journalist and filmmaker, who embarked on a personal journey at the age of 20 from Chicago to the Middle East, narrated how he works to engage children in Gaza creatively, encouraging them to take photographs. It also led to a touring exhibition of their works in the US, which was a defining experience for the young people.

Farooq Burney, Director of Al Fakhoora Education Above All, presented a human portrait of the refugees stating “they all had a similar life as you or me, and all they have today is hope for a bright future led by education.” Charlotte Giese, Specialist Advisor for Children & Youth at Danish Film Institute in Denmark, explained the work being undertaken among several underprivileged communities and the use of film as a medium to promote self-expression by young people.

The session, moderated by Firdoze Bulbulia, an award-winning producer, director and trainer, underscored the importance of encouraging children in conflict areas to tell their own stories. The Q&A session was equally engaging with participants discussing the importance of promoting the psycho-social welfare of the refugees. Abu Asaker shared the story of a how ten children were asked to make a simple statement, ‘I am a good boy.’ Nine of them expressed it with great difficulty and a good deal of coaxing while one simply couldn’t state it. “They have been living the camps for five years and they are so wounded from inside. It will take a lot of work to help them.”

The session concluded with a call to all of humanity to make a difference – in whichever way they can, as volunteers or through assistance, with Essa Al Mannai reminding the audience a quote by Booker Prize winning author Arundhati Roy: “To never get used to the unspeakable violence and the vulgar disparity of life around you...To try and understand. To never look away. And never, never to forget.”

For more information on the movie timings and the Ajyal Youth Film Festival, log onto www.dohafilminstitute.com.

The directors who are showcasing their films in the ‘Made in Qatar’ programme of the third Ajyal Youth Festival, presented by the Doha Film Institute, underline the success of the Institute’s founding mission – to supporting the next generation in filmmaking talent.

Sana Al-Ansari, the young director of If Only They Knew (Qatar, 2014), for example, was a young juror of the festival for two consecutive years. Turning director, therefore, was a logical progression that was supported by the Doha Film Institute. Inspired by the movies she had watched as a juror, she wanted to make a film that would resonate with the Qatari community. The result was If Only They Knew that addresses the issue of reckless driving. “Ask anyone, and they would all know of somebody who has been the victim of reckless driving. My own film was sparked by a similar incident in which a young man lost his life,” says Sana.

She says the team at the Doha Film Institute supported her in fine-tuning the script as well as in editing the footage she shot over two-and-a-half days. A  Communications student at  Northwestern University, she hopes that her film, which has already won the award for Best National Picture at Northwestern’s Thimun Film Festival and screened at ROTA’s EMPOWER Conference, will strengthen awareness on a social issue and lead to positive change. Jassim Al Rumaihi is another talent supported by the Doha Film Institute. He had screened his first short, co-directed when he was still a student, at the festival five years ago. It went on to win an award in the ‘Made in Qatar’ segment.

Now, working as a reporter at Al Jazeera News channel, he says that in making his second short, The Palm Tree, produced by the Doha Film Institute, he approached it with greater professionalism with “no room for mistakes that I could make when I was a student.” With support from the Institute, including cinematography by Thomas Hines, he has ventured into making what he describes as a “poetic/observational documentary.” Without dialogues or other sound props, his film charts the life-cycle of a palm tree. Jassim depicts the story of the palm tree from various angles – right from its seedling stage to how the dates are marketed.

“The palm tree is very majestic; it is part of our heritage. It features in the logo of many Arab nations and yet you see its value diminishing in popular perception and is not so celebrated,” says Jassim. He shot the film over five days, and thanks the Doha Film Institute for the support he has received along the journey. He has now secured funding for a documentary on Arabian horses. “I do not go into a generic documentary; it is about one specific horse,” much like how he has narrowed down the subject of the ubiquitous palm trees into one 14 minute short.

Jassim says that since he made his first short five years ago, the filmmaking scene in Qatar has changed. “Now there is better technology, better experience and international skills in filmmaking. I think the efforts of the Doha Film Institute have paid off well.” Amina Ahmed Al Bloshi, director of To My Mother highlights a story that she hopes will resonate with every woman in the Arab world. The film, made with the support of the Doha Film Institute, is about the value of education, underlined by the true story of Amina’s mother, who decided to start her education at the age of 40.

“She cried when she watched the film,” says Amina, “and told me that she had several photographs of hers as a child but never felt its value until she saw herself on screen and how people reacted to it.” For Amina, therefore the movie is a visual tribute that she passes on to the next generation. But more importantly, it is about telling all women anywhere in the world who were denied the opportunity to study for whatever reason that “it is never too late to learn.” Amina says that unlike old days, there is ample opportunity to pursue education today in Qatar.

“The doors are open and there is so much support from the government. Regardless of your nationality or age, if you have missed the chance to learn, do it now –not for a job but for the value it brings to your life.” Writer-producer Ali Ali’s film Charlie further illustrates how film can make positive change. His eponymous protagonist is imaginative and precocious but was struggling in school and falling behind his peers. He was eventually diagnosed with dyslexia. His family, after watching the Bollywood movie Tare Zameen Par, almost followed the film’s message to the core to make a positive impact on Charlie. Ali’s documentary shows how Charlie and his family cope with the challenge. Ali says it is a “happy film,” and although he does not want to convey any direct message, he believes it will make audiences think.

And if you need further evidence on how film not only helps one to find one’s inner voice, here is Light Sounds, written and directed by Karem Kamal. Inspired by the lives of two janitors at a mosque in Qatar, he wrote a powerful script that talks about how every face might hide an unrecognised talent. Producer Rasha Mkachar, who found the story endearing, says when they did a casting call to make the film, no one turned up. They couldn’t use the real protagonists for technical reasons. And that is how two staff at the Doha Film Institute, Roshan Sanjeewa and Sampath Dasanyaka, turned actors, thus proving in real life and reel life that there is more to people in everyday life than meets the eye.

Seventeen films are being screened in the ‘Made in Qatar’ programme featuring home-grown series of films highlighting the talent of Qatari filmmakers and those who call Qatar home. The second screenings in the programme will be held on Friday, Dec. 4 at 7 PM at Katara Drama Theatre, followed by the awards ceremony. On showcase today (Friday) at the 90-minute screening include: Asfoora (Arabic, English; 2015) by Mayar Hamdan that uses a mix of live action and animation in a dark comedy that tells what happens when people act on dangerous impulses. Charlie (English, 2015) by Ali Ali will hopefully inspire other kids to excel despite living with dyslexia while Good as New (Arabic, 2014) by Jaser Alagha is a poignant film that explores intergenerational tensions and the power of familial roots.

I Choose Islam (English; 2015) by Noor Al Tamimi, Silma Suba & Zac J. Hollo, seeks to spark dialogue about identity and faith with people from all religious backgrounds. Immortalizing Memories (Arabic, 2015) by Mostafa Sheshtawy is a reminder of the importance of community in any city, while Man of the House (Arabic, 2015) by Khalifa AlMarri touches on the themes of responsibility with a clever genre twist. Maryam (Arabic; 2015) by Zainab Ayon explores the pressure to be beautiful that faces women in the Gulf and all around the world, while Time (English; 2015) by Yassine Ouahrani delves into the complex ideas of how we understand time. The final short Veganize It (Arabic; 2015) by Khalid Salim is a comical short that shows the difficulties that can arise when being true to your own beliefs challenges cultural expectations.

Presented with the support of Tarsheed, the ‘Made in Qatar’ films are evaluated by a jury comprising: Ahd, an actor and filmmaker from Saudi Arabia; Marcel Ghanem, a multi-award winning current affairs journalist from Lebanon; and Bassam Al Ibrahim, a Qatari producer of several award-winning films. 

For more information on the movie timings and the Ajyal Youth Film Festival, log onto www.dohafilminstitute.com.