A scene from The Notebook.

A captivating observational documentary charting the ‘life story’ of a palm tree and a short narrative that mixes live action and animation, depicting what happens when one gives in to dangerous impulses, have bagged the top honours at the ‘Made in Qatar’ programme of the third Ajyal Youth Film Festival, by the Doha Film Institute.
Seventeen films, by Qatari filmmakers and those who call Qatar home, were part of the ‘Made in Qatar’ showcase. Presented with the support of Tarsheed, the films are evaluated by a jury comprising: Ahd, an actor and filmmaker from Saudi Arabia; Marcel Ghanem, a multi-award winning current affairs journalist from Lebanon and Bassam al-Ibrahim, a Qatari producer of several award-winning films.
The Palm Tree, edited and directed by Jassim al-Rumaihi, won the best documentary film award. Heart of the House, written and directed by Gabrielle Sol, won the jury award, while The Notebook, with script, cinematography and direction by Amna al-Binali, won the special mention for the documentary category.
Asfoora, written and directed by Mayar Hamdan, was named best narrative film, and Man of the House, with script, cinematography, editing, music, production and direction by Khalifa al-Marri, won the jury award for the narrative category.
Announcing the awards, the jury said The Palm Tree was chosen as the best documentary for its “ability to create a tie between nature, man and technology in a charming cinematic model, and for its high quality of treatment and cinematography, along with the director’s proficiency in delivering the idea with no dialogue.”
Heart of the House won the jury award “for its deep human touch, its rich cultural diversity and coherent treatment that transports viewers to the backstage of an unknown world,” while The Notebook was awarded the special mention “for its unique theme, coherent narration and innovative treatment.”
On the jury’s vote for Asfoora as the best narrative, they observed: “It is a film that integrates different elements and different styles by using the cinematic tools in the best way possible, and supported by professional and brilliant acting and setting.” Man of the House won the Jury Award for “gathering new genres, supporting it with distinctive and suspenseful elements, and for the near-solo effort of the filmmaker.”
The winners of the best documentary and best narrative film each received $5,000 through the Ajyal Film Fund while jury award winners received $3,000 each.