The jurors, aged eight to 21, will watch and evaluate 70 films that stimulate discussion on relevant issues affecting the youth globally.
Doha Film Institute (DFI) CEO and festival director Fatma al-Remaihi urged the jurors to learn from the diverse cinematic experiences at the six-day festival.
The 100-member Mohaq jury comprises the youngest of Ajyal jurors, aged eight to 12, who will watch one programme of short films and four feature length films. The 250 Hilal jurors, aged 13 to 17, will watch five feature films and a programme of shorts.
The most mature of Ajyal’s juries is the 100 strong Bader, with jurors aged 18 to 21, who will select their favourite film from five features and two programmes of short films. Each of the Ajyal juries will award a Best Film prize to their favourite short and feature-length films for a total of six awards.
The festival will also highlight ‘Made in Qatar’ films by Qatari directors and ‘people who call Qatar home.’ Eight short films, including DFI-supported ones, will be screened at Katara Drama Theatre from 7pm today.
These films include a hilarious film 9956 by Zaki Hussain; and Amer: An Arabian Legend by Jassim al-Rumaihi, which follows the story of Amer, a legendary purebred Arabian racehorse.
Hamida Issa’s Between Science and Religion reminds people to be mindful of the present in ‘an all-too short time on Earth’ while Noor al-Nasr’s Dana’s Kite portrays a girl who plays on the beach and tries to get her brother’s attention.
Khalifa al-Marri’s Fragile (Qatar, France) is a story of an ex-couple who face a lot of challenges of letting go while Nora al-Subai’s Al-Johara, also a Qatari Film Fund grant recipient, reimagines a familiar fairytale in a very contemporary fashion.
AJ al-Thani’s Kashta tells a father who teaches his sons how to hunt in the quiet desert, when a careless struggle between the two brothers leads to disaster.
Other films also include Bayan Dahdah’s Shishbarak (effects of spending time with loved ones), Goran Radovanovic’s Enclave (Serbia, Germany) and Philippe Faucon’s Fatima (France).
The festival’s midnight screenings will debut with Under the Shadow (Iran, UK, Jordan, Qatar), UK’s selection for the Oscars for ‘Best Foreign Language Film’ this year directed by Babak Anvari.
The winner of Berlinale’s Golden Bear this year, Fire at Sea (Italy, France) directed by Gianfranco Rosi will also be screened at Katara Opera House.
Apart from the regular film screenings, the Ajyal family weekend also kicks off today at Katara. More details can be had from www.dohafilminstitute.com/filmfestival
