If a film dealing with bullying, parent separation, or death of a parent,
can help a child speak up, reflect, talk about it, or come to terms with
it, then we have succeeded, Fatma al-Remaihi tells Anand Holla
In the thick of preparations for the second edition of Qatar’s homegrown Ajyal Youth Film Festival, Fatma al-Remaihi manages to make time for a conversation, and a quick flashback, too.
“I have always loved cinema,” she says, “I grew up on Hollywood movies and even learnt English by watching them. My earliest movie memory must be watching E.T. My first cinema experience was Titanic, and I remember it was a remarkable social change for us here in Doha,” she says.
However, like most teenagers in the ’90s, the Festival Director of Ajyal, was blissfully unaware of the many wonders of World Cinema. “I began devouring international cinema only when I was 30. I feel that I should have started watching them much before,”
she admits.
Her seven-year-old son though is another story. The kid has already started watching World Cinema that his film-versed mother recommends for him.
“I think it’s most important to expose children to good international cinema,” she points out, “I am certain that 10 years from now, my son’s perspective on a lot of issues will be much more refined than someone his age who grew up not watching World Cinema.”
This generational step-forward al-Remaihi emphasises upon, pretty much sums up the concept of Ajyal, which means ‘generations’ in Arabic. While Doha Film Institute’s (DFI) Ajyal is intended for the society as a whole, children and youth are certainly the focus of this entertaining yet thought-stirring cine-feast.
“Through Ajyal, our main objective is to instill positive change in the lives of children and youth,” al-Remaihi explains, “If a film dealing with bullying, parent separation, or death of a parent, can help a child speak up, reflect, talk about it, or come to terms with it, then we have succeeded.”
“If one child,” she continues, “steps out of this festival having discovered something life-changing; that, in itself, is an achievement for us. With a jury comprising 450 children and youth, one can imagine there’s a lot that the festival will touch.”
By influencing the lives of the young, our society can reach great heights in every other arena, al-Remaihi feels. “We must know that we are working with the generations of the future. It will take time but we must be patient,” she says.
From December 1 to 6, 90 meticulously chosen films from 43 countries will be screened at the Ajyal festival at Katara. Al-Remaihi, who has been at the helm of putting it all together, has assumed bigger responsibilities ever since she became the Acting CEO of DFI in August.
From setting and overseeing the strategic direction of the Institute to maintaining its focus on promoting film culture in Qatar to developing its presence on the regional and international stage, al-Remaihi has to multi-task the big picture with the present picture — that of handling the artistic and operational aspects of Ajyal, as its Festival Director.
“Making Ajyal happen is a year-long process,” she says, referring to the procedures of film submissions and selections, “Every year, there are so many great films for us to choose from. But we pick the ones that fit the purpose and goal of Ajyal, you know the ones with good messages or emphasising upon strong value systems, stories with universal themes that can touch, affect, and inspire the young.”
This also means that the team has some intense discussions with their programmers. This edition’s opening film, a celebratory Palestinian racing documentary titled Speed Sisters tracks the lives of five spirited women who happen to be the first all-woman rally-racing team in the Middle East.
“It was on our minds, for a long time, as the opening film,” al-Remaihi says, “One day, we were all sitting, and three of us happened to be thinking about it that very moment. None of us talked until one of us said it. Then we all went — I was just thinking of that!” The very unlikely Palestinian story was roped in as the opening film for the spirit it embodies.
“It’s such an uplifting film from the Middle East. It shows that even when everything around you is crumbling, you can still do what you want to do,” al-Remaihi says, “It carries an amazing message and it’s such messages that we love to share with the community.”
Borrowing notes from the Giffoni Experience — the biggest international children’s film festival in the world that is held in Italy — Ajyal, too, has an exciting schedule for its 450 jurors. “Their programme is so incredible that I want to leave everything and join them as a juror for six straight days,” al-Remaihi says, smiling.
While Giffoni, this year, received around 33,000 applications from children across the world, it could accept only 3500 young jurors. “Imagine how heart-breaking it must be for all those kids who didn’t make it,” says al-Remaihi, “But, in future, we, too, want to grow into such numbers.”
Apart from the wide-ranging film programme, there’s a host of Family Weekend cultural activities in store at Ajyal — the Sandbox, an interactive environment that provides access to the latest in digital technology; In Conversation sessions with accomplished film talents; and a photography exhibition featuring local artists.
There will even be the Sony Pop-up Cinema on the Katara Esplanade showing The Lord of the Rings trilogy and the first two chapters of The Hobbit, taking place each night from December 2 to December 6. All these add-ons are part of Ajyal’s objectives to underline the importance of nurturing a sense of community and closeness.
“There’s this wrong perception that films are a waste of time, or that they are meant only for entertainment,” says al-Remaihi, who has been with DFI since its inception in 2009, “The truth is that there’s a whole lot to learn from films.”
Having been at the forefront of Ajyal has compelled al-Remaihi to be circumspective of films. “I now see films from a very different perspective. I look beyond what’s there on screen. I look behind the story, and wonder what the director wants to convey and how the film can affect people here.”
“So, as a festival director, the magic of cinema is a little bit ruined for me,” she says and laughs, “because when I watch a film, I have to think of every aspect so as to make a good judgment on it.”
One of the standout elements of Ajyal is the Made in Qatar series, which comprises 20 films made by Qataris or those who live in Qatar. “The best part about this series is that it’s not limited to Doha,” says al-Remaihi, “It’s travelling the world. We took it to Cannes, Clermont-Ferrand, and now it’s enjoying its run in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.”
“So people from around the world are absorbing and experiencing stories from Doha. We have started exporting our stories,” she says.
As for the DFI making waves in the international film circuit with its many productions, al-Remaihi maintains that their focus is on honing talent at home.
“As I grew up on Hollywood movies, it taught me a lot about different cities and cultures. But as you grow up, you realise that perhaps Hollywood can’t provide the best representation of your region. So you learn more, appreciate more, and want more. That’s why these cinematic voices from our region need to be heard,” she says.
Promoting the local film culture and circle then, is priority for the DFI. Al-Remaihi feels that everything they do internationally must somehow help things locally. “That’s because only if we succeed locally, will we be able to succeed globally,” she says.
