6th Ajyal Film Festival Celebrates Local Talents with 16 Films in ‘Made in Qatar’ presented by Ooredoo

Qatar’s home-grown film industry marks another milestone with the Doha Film Institute showcasing 16 captivating films in Made in Qatar presented by Ooredoo at the 6th edition of Ajyal Film Festival to be held at Katara Cultural Village from November 28 to December 3, 2018. 

Made in Qatar presented by Ooredoo, will once again shine the spotlight on home grown talents with 16 films by Qatari directors and Qatar-based filmmakers, highlighting the diversity of creative talent in Qatar and also underlines the remarkable growth of the country’s film sector.

The films will vie for the Made in Qatar Awards, chosen by a jury that includes Turkish Actress Tuba Unsal, Dr. Amal Mohammed Al Malki, Founding Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Hamad Bin Khalifa University and Irish filmmaker Collin McIvor.

Made in Qatar will once again present two film programmes with narratives and documentaries and includes the world premieres of recently completed projects from previous Qatar Film Fund recipients, Amal Al Muftah’s Sh’hab, Naif Al Malki’s I Am Not My Father, Mahdi Ali Ali’s Amphitheater, and Nasser Goes to Space by Mohamed Al Mahmeed.

 “Made in Qatar holds a special place in the Ajyal Film Festival programming, highlighting our local creative talents and inspiring young filmmakers to pursue their ambitions in filmmaking right here in Qatar,” said Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Festival Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Doha Film Institute. “The quality of the films being produced in Qatar demonstrates an exciting path that our young filmmakers are forging in the industry”.  

This year’s Made in Qatar section at Ajyal consists of two programmes of shorts that include narratives, thought-provoking documentaries and reflective essays:

Programme 1 - Thursday, November 29, 6.15 PM at Katara Drama Theatre

Al Gawasa (2018) by Sheikha Bahzad and Maryam Althani is an inspirational portrait of the young men who are once again taking to the sea and rediscovering the proud Qatari tradition of pearl diving.

Gubgub (2018) by Nouf Al Sulaiti depicts the story of an adventurous young girl, who goes crab hunting with her family. Discouraged when her father undervalues her accomplishments compared to her brother’s, she sets out to win his approval.

I am not my Father (2018) by Naif Hassan Al-Malki is an exploration into the power of dreams and how close family relationships and a sense of bonding are essential to happiness.

Millennials (2017) by Aisha Al Shammakh is a documentary about six people from the millennial generation. While they may come from different backgrounds, they share the same digital experiences.

One in 50 Million (2018) by Luciana Ceccatto Farah is about Nawaal Akram, who suffers from an extremely rare condition but does not let it prevent her from living a full life as a cosplayer, comedian and disability rights activist.

Sh'hab (2018) by Amal Al-Muftah tells the story of a young girl, whose curiosity is sparked upon hearing a myth about falling stars. she sets out in her father’s boat to find some.

Voyager (2018) by Khalifa AlMarri is a visually breath-taking film that follows Qatari adventurer, Khalid Al-Jaber, as he travels across Europe on his motorcycle.

A Moment with the Wind (2018) by Ibrahim Nashat is a documentary following a kite surfer who pursues his dreams of freedom and reconnecting with nature, and to make his passion a lifelong vocation.

Programme 2 - Saturday, December 1, 7 PM at the Katara Drama Theatre

Amphitheater (2018) by Mahdi Al Ali is about Sarah, a professional Qatari photographer, who visits Katara and happens upon a rebellious young girl and her family. Fascinated by the girl's defiant behaviour, she begins to follow them.

The Bleaching Syndrome (2018) by Eiman Mirghani is a heartfelt and personal look into the troubling industry of skin lightening cosmetic products, and why some people feel social pressure to use them.

Just Another Memory (2018) by Mariam Al-Dhubhani is an exploration of what it feels like to be displaced by war; torn between being 'safe' and 'away' with the emotional burden that entails.

Nasser Goes to Space (2018) by Mohamed Al Mahmeed is about Nasser, a highly creative seven-year-old boy who copes with his parents’ divorce by escaping to a magical place he has created in his mind.

The Reason, July 2017 (2017) by Hadeer Omar narrates the story of an artist, who takes a day trip that inspires her to draw. Her intricate illustrations flow and merge with memories from back home in Egypt and Qatar.

Samha (2018) by Ruqiya Khudai Noor and Noor Fawzi Al-Asswad documents the journey of a camel named 'Samha' as they are entered the Mzayn Al Ebil competition, an annual tournament held in Qatar.

Unrestrained (2018) by Houssam Laabar is a high-octane documentary that follows the exhilarating, yet dangerous sport of dune bashing. Fasten your seatbelt as the film takes you a trip deep into the Qatari desert.

Where Are You Right Meow? (2018) by Maysam Al-Ani is about a young artist, Ayako, who struggles with creative block. Suddenly, her beloved cat Beru goes missing, and she must search for him around her neighbourhood.

Tickets go on sale on November 13th in FNAC stores (Lagoona Mall and Doha Festival City) and on November 17th in Ajyal Katara Main Box office, Building 12. Online ticket sales starts on November 13th at www.dohafilminstitute.com/festival.

For more details on the Ajyal Film Festival, please visit www.dohafilminstitute.com/filmfestival.

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