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Katara - the Cultural Village - and Doha Film Institute (DFI) have announced the latest installment of Arab Voices, a programme celebrating the diversity of Arab culture featuring contemporary films by leading cinematic voices in the Mena region.
Films by Saudi filmmaker Haifaa al-Mansour and debutant feature filmmaker Karzan Kader will be screened in April. The line-up for this edition of the Katara DFI Cinema Series includes al-Mansour’s Wadjda, which is back due to popular demand following sellout screenings over the past weekend, and a preview of Kader’s Bekas. These are two standout films in a pioneering year for Arab cinema.
The films will be screened daily, with two shows of Bekas and five of Wadjda from April 18 to 22 at Katara Drama Theatre, building 16.
Set in the oppressive regime of Saddam Hussain in Iraqi Kurdistan, Bekas tells the story of two homeless orphaned brothers who are inspired to travel to America after they see Superman in the city’s first cinema. They have no passports and no money - and their only means of transport is a donkey called Michael Jackson. Against all odds, they set out towards their dream, discovering on their journey that perhaps they are superheroes themselves.
It was a crowd favourite at the Dubai International Film Festival where it won the People’s Choice award.
Wadjda, the first film to be shot entirely in Saudi Arabia and the first Saudi feature directed by a woman, is the story of a fun-loving, entrepreneurial 10-year-old girl living in a suburb of Riyadh.
When Wadjda sees a beautiful green bicycle for sale, she wants it desperately, but her mother won’t allow her to have it fearing repercussions from a conservative society.
So, Wadjda decides to raise the money herself. Just as she is losing hope, Wadjda hears of a cash prize for a Qur’an recitation competition at her school.
Wadjda won three awards at the Venice Film Festival where it premiered last year. It has been screened in 12 countries, winning critical and popular acclaim. It was named Best Film at the Dubai Film Festival in December.
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