Qatar’s home-grown film industry will mark another milestone in its evolution with Doha Film Institute (DFI) showcasing 17 ‘Made in Qatar’ films at the upcoming fourth edition of Ajyal Youth Film Festival.
The event will be held at Katara – the Cultural Village from November 30 to December 5.
One of the most popular segments of the festival, the programme was conceptualised in 2009 as a platform to screen one-minute films from Qatar-based aspiring filmmakers, and has since then grown into an integral programming strand highlighting the diversity of creative talent that exists in Qatar.  
“The programme has witnessed remarkable evolution over the years in the diversity of storytelling, quality of filmmaking and narrative styles, and increased representation from national talents, especially from young women filmmakers, and is now recognised as the definite platform to discover the talent of Qatari filmmakers and those who call Qatar home,” DFI said in a press statement.
This year, Ajyal brings two programmes of short films that include narratives, documentaries and essays, and marks a milestone with the world premieres of the first completed projects from the 2015 Qatar Film Fund recipients: Al-Johara and Amer: An Arabian Legend, and The Waiting Room and Kashta, recipients of the institute’s Grants Programme.
The dedicated showcase curates an annual slate of films conceptualised and produced by the new generation of filmmaking talent, including Qatari directors and filmmakers based in the country. Several of these films are made by independent filmmakers, students of Qatar University or Northwestern University in Qatar, or with the support of DFI’s workshops and funding programmes.
An eminent jury of film industry professionals will evaluate the ‘Made in Qatar’ showcase to award the Best Film. This year, the jury comprises Bahraini actress Haifa Hussain, director of the Fire Station gallery Khalifa al-Obaidly and Emirati director and producer Nayla al-Khaja.
Following their screenings at Ajyal, DFI curates a special travelling series of ‘Made in Qatar’ films that are screened at markets of international film festivals, including Clermont-Ferrand, Cannes Short Film Corner, Berlinale, Dubai International Film Festival, Giffoni Film Festival and Sarajevo Film Festival, among others.
Fatma al-Remaihi, festival director and CEO of DFI, said: “This year’s focus on short films was led by our vision to not only extend the opportunity to more talents but also to challenge the creativity and executional brilliance of our filmmakers.”
The 17 films are as follows: 9956 directed by Zaki Hussain, Amer: An Arabian Legend by Jassim al-Rumaihi, Ben Al Alam w Al-Din (Between Science and Religion) by Hamida Issa, Daz by Shoog Shaheen, Al-Johara by Nora al-Subai, Kashta by AJ al-Thani, Shishbarak by Bayan Dahdah, Makh’bz by Aisha R AlMuhannadi, Caravan by Suzannah Mirghani, Dana’s Kite by Noor al-Nasr, Dunia by Amer Jamhour, Love Blood Test by Mostafa Sheshtawy, Fragile by Khalifa al-Marri, More Than Two Days by Ahmed Abdelnaser Ahmed, Passport by Dana al-Meer, Um Khalifa by Alanood al-Kuwari and The Waiting Room by Hend Fakhroo.
The ‘Made in Qatar’ films will be screened with a Red Carpet ceremony to be attended by the young filmmakers on December 1 at Katara Drama Theatre. Tickets are priced at QR25 and will be available at the Ajyal Box Office from November 16 at 2pm.