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
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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
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