The fourth edition of the Ajyal Youth Film Festival will be held from November 30 to December 5 at Katara – the Cultural Village, the Doha Film Institute (DFI) has said.
In a press statement, DFI noted that the annual festival is expected to bring people of all ages together through special screenings and events that inspire creative interaction and stimulate cinematic dialogue.
According to DFI, youth participation will remain at the heart of the festival and its jury programme which provides young people between the ages of 8 and 21 with an opportunity to watch, analyse and discuss films from all over the world, developing critical thinking, self-expression, and an appreciation of cinema.
“We look forward to building on the successes of the Ajyal Youth Film Festival that proved that films can do more than just entertain; it can educate, inspire and bring communities together,”
DFI CEO and Ajyal director Fatma al-Remaihi said.
“One of the key initiatives of DFI in developing Arab voices is fostering an understanding and appreciation of positive cinema among children and youth,” she noted.
“This is reflected in the Ajyal Jurors, whereby youth from across the world, celebrate world cinema through dialogue and discussion, challenging their thought process and helping shape perceptions about issues affecting today’s youth,” al-Remaihi added.
Katara will continue as the ‘Cultural Partner’ to the festival for the fourth year while Occidental Petroleum Corporation will serve as a ‘Principal Partner,’ marking its fourth year of partnership with the Institute.
The third Ajyal Youth Film Festival hosted nearly 600 young jurors of 45 nationalities, alongside a dynamic public programme of screenings and events which included the Mena premiere of Hany Abu Assad’s The Idol, the world premiere of Bilal, the first animated feature from the GCC region and the first of its kind inclusive cinema experience in the region, the screening of Hero and the Message to mark the United Nation’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
The film programme featured 80 films from 36 countries along with 50 public screenings and a range of interactive panels, masterclasses and workshops designed to educate, engage and entertain.