This year's selection includes five diverse films that underline the creative progress of the country’s flourishing film industry with two films created with support from the Ministry of Public Health of Qatar.
Doha Film Institute (DFI) will showcase an inspiring selection of stories by Qatar’s emerging film talents in the Made in Qatar programme at the 2024 Ajyal Film Festival (November 16 to 23).
Made in Qatar showcases films by Qatari and Qatar-based talents. The jury for this year’s programme is led by acclaimed Palestinian actor Saleh Bakri, and includes Kenyan filmmaker Debra Aroko and Qatari director Amal Al Muftah. This year’s selection includes five diverse films that underline the creative progress of the country’s flourishing film industry with two films created with support from the Ministry of Public Health of Qatar.
Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Chief Executive Officer of DFI and Festival Director, said: “After a successful special screening of Made in Qatar films earlier this year, we are proud to screen five additional new films reflecting the diversity of our nation and the progress of our creative talent to prominence on the world stage. The programme continues to be a cornerstone of Ajyal, providing a platform for homegrown voices to share their unique perspectives and innovative storytelling techniques. The selection is a strong representation of the vibrant creative ecosystem that the nation has fostered and a testament to the success of the Institute’s commitment to supporting filmmakers through every step of their creative journey.”
The programme includes I Lay for You to Sleep (Qatar/2024) by Ali Al Hajri, a contemplative experimental narrative that explores the emotional depths of loss and renewal through poetic imagery. The film is also screening in the Bader Shorts Competition. The next film is Alkaline (Qatar/2024) by Paul Abraham and Abdulla Al-Hor. It highlights the complex interplay between personal choices, family expectations and how fear can shape relationships in profound ways. The film, in Malayalam and English, was created with support from the Ministry of Public Health of Qatar.
Short film Breshna (Qatar/2024) by Obada Jarbi narrates the moving story of a survivor of a terrorist attack in Kabul who finds refuge in Qatar. The short, Can You See Me? (Qatar/2024) by Dhoha Abdelsattar follows a lonely woman, Maryam, who is trapped in the cycle of a mundane life that spirals into emotional turmoil until she is forced to confront herself and the possibility of change. Finally, Cochlea (Qatar/2024) by Karim Emara, supported by the Ministry of Public Health of Qatar, is about Rokia, a 50-year-old Arab woman who reunites with her twenty-year-old son, Youssef, after six months apart.
Ajyal 2024 features 66 thought-provoking films from 42 countries depicting themes that will resonate with and inspire audiences with stories of resilience, hope and community empowerment. The event will also have interactive discussions, inclusive screenings, film exhibition, Qatar’s largest pop-culture event – Geekend. Events will be held across key locations, including Katara, Sikkat Wadi Msheireb, Lusail and VOX Cinemas Doha Festival City.
