Q Life Magazine Q Magazine (US) June 2017 | Page 36

Entrepreneurship and Business | | Issue 3 From ‘Will Do’ to ‘Can Do’: Qatar’s Promising Ecosystem for Young Filmmakers D ecember 1 st 2016 was a proud day for Qatar’s filmmakers, Qataris and those who call this nation home, when a record seventeen films “Made in Qatar” screened at the fourth Ajyal Youth Film Festival, presented by the Doha Film Institute (DFI). In Qatar, a small but growing number of people are committed to pushing beyond hobby filmmaking, resulting in a steady growth of the country’s film industry as nationals and non- residents step forward to make films locally. | Qumra, Doha 36 Qatari writer and director Hend Fakhroo says the transformation to the nation’s film industry has been remarkable – and it is not just about the numbers. “It is the production values, and the audience response that our films receive; the landscape has changed for the good. It is a shift from the days when people used to say ‘we will someday do films,’ to now, young people in Qatar making a statement with films made here.” Only a few years ago, the scenario was different. Then, it was not only difficult to find talented professionals and support crew, but also challenging to present a film to a wider audience if it did not belong to the traditional Hollywood or Bollywood fare. Qatar today offers the support and guidance needed for young filmmakers, and there is a clear vision to develop the country’s film industry. Annual industry event Qumra, launched three years ago, supports the growth of the Qatari and | Qumra, Doha regional film communities, and is fast gaining ground as a serious space for mentoring new filmmakers from the Middle East and beyond. A DFI initiative, Qumra lays the foundations to support new projects and provides a nurturing space where filmmakers can learn their craft, develop their skills, and present their work to audiences around the globe. This year, Qumra featured 33 projects from 25 countries, including 12 films from Qatar, five feature films and seven shorts in various stages of production. These stories, the fruits of the continuous work that DFI has undertaken with these filmmakers, lay the foundations of a new era in Qatar’s young film industry. Participants highlighted the role that Qumra plays in facilitating networking opportunities with international film experts, and for making a tangible difference to their projects across all aspects of film production – from script consultation to international film festival outreach. productive time spent with all colleagues as we share insights and experiences. Thanks to Qumra, we are now able to curate our projects in a better way.” Qumra expands on the DFI’s existing support mechanisms for filmmakers, taking it beyond financial contributions into a more meaningful level of support. Since its inception, DFI has launched initiatives that nurture emerging talents and aid the new generation of filmmakers, making a positive impact in Qatar and the region in setting the foundations for a vibrant film industry and taking local stories to the world. Emerging filmmaker Rawda Al-Thani, currently making the short film “Reem Planted a Flower,” describes the influence of DFI’s initiative on her career: “I started my journey to film in college with my colleague at Northwestern University in Qatar. I look for local themes from our culture and take it as a story for my films. It is amazing to have this opportunity to develop my Speaking about the assistance that he has received via film through Qumra. It has been a great support – the DFI and Qumra, Fahad Al-Kuwari, the brains behind short film “Angels, Spiders and other Miserable Creatures,” workshops and masterclasses helped me have a better said: “It is very important for us as filmmakers to interact understanding of filmmaking.” with experts and industry professionals. Qumra serves as 37