By Anand Holla
For the aspiring documentary filmmakers of Qatar, breaking into a sweat this summer promises to pay rich dividends. The Doha Film Institute (DFI) has now unveiled its plans of an intensive lab for beginner to intermediate docu-makers, starting May 20.
The lab is designed to sharpen skills in documentary filming technique and theory in a realistic, high-pressure environment that takes participants from project development through filming to final edit.
Experienced international documentary filmmakers provide guidance in accessing the director’s inner voice and concentrating on creative documentaries with personal reflection.
Participants are encouraged to develop their skills in a supportive environment that inspires creativity and builds confidence. Approaches to accessing and exploring inner themes are applied to personal stories that come from the heart and reflect contemporary life in the Gulf region.
Mentors analyse documentary films during the lab and work with participants to develop their ideas. Participants also learn techniques in documentary cinematography, sound and editing before filming. Up to four of the participants’ projects will be selected for production. All participants are expected to take on roles as part of the filming teams.
The applicants must submit a documentary treatment, no longer than one page, for a short documentary – a maximum of 10 minutes. Applicants must be certain that the subject matter can be filmed in Doha over a two-day to three-day period during the third week of the lab.
The DFI is interested in subject matter that has personal resonance for the applicant. During the selection process, applicants will be asked to justify their choice of subject matter and talk about why they would like to document it.
The workshop is designed to develop ideas into short documentary films. Therefore, the DFI is not looking for projects that are already developed or that have already been filmed or partly filmed.
As for the requirements for submission, you can send the following in Word or PDF format to [email protected]. Documentary treatment running into a maximum of one page (Mandatory); CV or short bio (Mandatory); previous writing (Optional); any artistic portfolio such as films, photography, drawings, etc. (Optional); and a copy of Qatar Passport or Qatar Residence Permit. All documents must include the writer’s first and last name, project title, draft number, and date.
Candidates with promising works will be shortlisted by the development unit. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview process where the development unit will work with them to develop their treatment through written and verbal notes on their work. They will also have a short interview with the workshop mentor.
Candidates will be assessed on their ability to expand and develop their ideas into a coherent documentary proposition with subject matter that can be filmed in Doha over a two-or-three-day period during the lab dates.
The mentors for the sessions are documentary lab mentor leader Peter Chappell (4 weeks), and a documentary lab sound mentor, and a documentary lab editing mentor. The deadline for submission is May 7, and the dates of the lab are from May 20 to June 17.
While the first week will have full days of sessions, the following weeks will have them on afternoons and evenings. The lab is open to residents of Qatar only.
OPPORTUNITY: The workshop is designed to develop ideas into short documentary films.
