12th Ajyal Film Festival to Begin Nov.16, Feature 66 Films from 42 Countries

Ajyal Film Festival

Doha Film Institute (DFI) on Monday announced the programme of the 2024 edition of Ajyal Film Festival which will be organized under the theme 'Moments that Matter'.

To be held from November 16 to 23, Ajyal 2024 will feature a selection of 66 thought-provoking films from 42 countries depicting themes that will resonate with and inspire audiences with stories of resilience, hope and community empowerment. Events will be held across key locations, including Katara, Sikkat Wadi Msheireb, Lusail and VOX Cinemas Doha Festival City.

Ajyal 2024 will open with an inspiring feature documentary that highlights the youth activism to transform society through cultural advocacy, poetry, and unity. A Doha Film Institute supported film, Sudan, Remember Us (Tunisia, France, Qatar) directed by emerging female director Hind Meddeb presents a masterful depiction of compelling young activists in their fight for freedom using words, poems, and chants. The film aptly conveys the power of dreams, hope, and creativity to challenge oppressive forces.

At the official press conference of Ajyal 2024, Festival Director and Chief Executive Officer of Doha Film Institute, Fatma Hassan Alremaihi said: "Art is a form of defiance, and the 2024 edition of Ajyal reminds us that it cannot be silenced. While the level of horrific human suffering unleashed against innocent people in the region is infinitely disturbing, it is also fuel for our determination to protect and promote genuine human understanding, compassion and empathy to guide our actions."

She added: "In a world facing immeasurable pain and division, Ajyal serves as a crucial platform where stories can bridge divides and bring us closer together. Through films that inspire conversations, challenge perceptions, and reinforce our shared humanity, Ajyal's Moments That Matter is a reminder of the values we need to cultivate to help us all heal and move forward towards lasting peace." She expressed her pride in seeing the films supported by the DFI gain recognition and appreciation worldwide, confirming that the stories of our region deserve to be told and heard.

In remarks to QNA, Alremaihi stressed the importance of celebrating the Cultural Year /Qatar-Morocco 2024/, noting that Morocco is a country with a long history of cinema.

She pointed out that during the special edition of the Ajyal Film Club, presented by the Doha Film Institute in cooperation with the Nawaat Foundation and the Tangier Film Association, in the Moroccan city of Tangier, there was an opportunity to stand on the rising talents who are hopeful for a bright future, revealing at the same time that the Ajyal Film Festival will be present in other countries as part of the Cultural Years initiative.

For her part, Film Programmer at DFI, Sheikha Rawda Al-Thani provided details of the festival, which features the 'Made in Qatar' programme, one of the festival's highlights, featuring five films produced by Qatari directors and residents of Qatar, reflecting the country's diversity.

She also explained that Ajyal 2024 will present a new initiative called Made in Qatar Youth, which provides emerging talents with the basic tools and knowledge in filmmaking to enable them to succeed in this field.

She said that on the occasion of the Qatar-Morocco 2024 Year of Culture, Ajyal Festival presents the Made in Morocco programme, which provides an insightful look at Moroccan life and the evolving cultural scene, noting that the programme includes six short films exploring themes of tradition, identity and societal change, including works by director Faouzi Bensaidi. 

Ajyal 2024 Programme Highlights include the Special Screenings programme - an exciting showcase of cinematic experiences that demonstrate the limitless capability of the medium of film to expand perspectives, celebrate culture, and inspire people of all abilities.

The programme will feature renowned Cambodian director and screenwriter Rithy Panh's latest project Meeting with Pol Pot, the exclusive premiere of an episode from The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition Season 2, powered by Media City Qatar and filmed right here in Qatar, ahead of the official season launch just days away, open-air cinema under the beautiful night sky of Doha and a special showcase on short films from Morocco.

Ajyal 2024 will also host a special screening of the award-winning animated feature Flow by Gints Zilbalodis for our young guests from Palestine in Qatar as part of the school screening initiative.
Special guests at Ajyal this year include Palestinian actors Saleh Bakri and Hiam Abbas, Egyptian actor Khaled El Nabwy, Turkish actor Esra Bilgic, Palestinian actor and director Mohamed Bakri, French actor and director Cyril Guei, Thai entrepreneur Chatri Sityodtong, Cambodian filmmaker Rithy Panh, Tunisian filmmaker Meryam Joobeur, Palestinian musician Anees, Sudanese musician Mustafa the Poet, Nigerian photographer and filmmaker Misan Harriman among others.

Ajyal 2024 will also present the adapted screening of Ode to Our Land by Amal Al-Muftah and Rawda Al-Thani for people with hearing, visual or speech comprehension challenges. Presented in collaboration with the Translation and Interpreting Institute (TII) of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), the programme highlights the power of film as a tool for inclusion that transcends physical limitations.
The Festival will also present the next installment of the timely "Voices from Palestine" film series to shed light on the ongoing challenges faced by the Palestinian people. Through two features and four shorts, Palestinian filmmakers document their experiences of loss, survival, and resistance, offering deeply moving insights into life under occupation.

Titles in the programme include Undr by Kamal Aljafari, Janin Jenin by Mohamed Bakri and From Ground Zero - a compelling project that brings together 22 short films created by talented filmmakers from Gaza. This initiative, launched by renowned Palestinian filmmaker Rashid Masharawi, was born against the backdrop of the conflict and aims to provide a platform for young artists to express themselves through their craft.

The 2024 edition og Ajyal will present the Intaj: From Ground Zero Experience at Msheireb Properties, that offers a unique opportunity for audiences to discover deeply personal perspectives on life in Gaza, capturing its challenges, tragedies, and moments of resilience through the 22 short films.

Ajyal's popular open-air screenings returns with Cinema Under the Stars at the Museum of Islamic Art Park and Cinema by the Sea at Westbay Beach with a curated programme of animated features and family-friendly classics, including Babar the Movie by Alan Bunce, The Borrowers by Peter Hewitt, Hansel and Gretel by Richard Slapczynski and Little Nemo by Masami Hata and Milliam Hurtz among others.

Moreover, Lusail Boulevard will host the "Geekend" event from November 20 to 23, to celebrate to celebrate all things geeky, and brings together enthusiasts for a weekend filled with creativity, culture, and community at Qatar's largest and one-of-a-kind pop-culture event during Ajyal.

(QNA)