The Doha Film Institute, a not-for-profit cultural organisation, has released the titles for the third edition of the upcoming Ajyal Youth Film Festival.

The annual festival will open on November 29 with the Middle East Premiere of The Idol, from Academy Award-nominated Palestinian filmmaker Hany Abu-Assad.

Other Middle East premieres include this year’s Berlin Film Festival Golden Bear-winner, Jafar Panahi’s Taxi, and 2015 Cannes ‘Un Certain Regard’ opener An, by Japanese director Naomi Kawase.

Other films from celebrated filmmakers included in the selection are Tigers, a hard-hitting look at the nefarious practices of multinational corporations in the developing world from Academy Award-winning Bosnian director Danis Tanović, and Mia Madre, a drama about a film director’s relationship with her ailing mother by Cannes Palme d’Or winner, Italian director Nanni Moretti.

Ajyal 2015 marks the Qatar premiere for Tigers, by director, Tanović, who was one of the five Masters at the inaugural edition of Qumra in March, the Doha Film Institute’s newly inaugurated industry event for emerging filmmakers.

Mia Madre will have its Gulf premiere at Ajyal, following its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival this year, where it won the Ecumenical Jury Prize.

Also joining the line up is Very Big Shot, from Lebanese first-time feature director and Doha Film Institute grantee Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya. Its screening at Ajyal will be the regional premiere of the film outside of its home territory, Lebanon.


Fatma Al Remaihi, CEO of Doha Film Institute, said: “Hany Abu-Assad’s The Idol, the powerful true story of a young boy overcoming staggering odds to realise his dream, is an ideal opening for this year’s edition of the Ajyal Youth Film Festival.”

“As a co-financer of the film, we are delighted to bring home the story that originally touched the region, and indeed the world, in 2013. We are also honored to present Doha Film Institute grantee Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya’s outstanding debut feature Very Big Shot, a film that embodies our commitment to supporting emerging talent from the region.

“We believe this third edition of the Ajyal Youth Film Festival is set to be our strongest yet, as the Festival’s reputation continues to grow each year. The range of works from internationally renowned auteurs already confirmed will provide a truly memorable experience for our audiences and young jurors,” she added.

The third annual Ajyal Youth Film Festival will take place from November 29 to December 5 at Katara Cultural Village.

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; Cinema Under the Stars; family weekend; special events and exhibitions; the Sandbox interactive digital playground; school screenings; and 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.

The full line-up and schedule for the Ajyal Youth Film Festival 2015 will be announced in early November. – TradeArabia News Service