Qatar Museum’s (QM) 'From Here to Anywhere: The Story of Football in Qatar' film was awarded the Guirlande D'Honneur 2024, the highest Fédération Internationale Cinéma Télévision Sportifs (Ficts) Award, standing out for a significant action to promote cultural and ethical values.
The Ficts Award is considered the “Oscar” of sports Television and Cinema for those people of sport, cinema and television.
'From Here to Anywhere: The Story of Football in Qatar' is a documentary film produced in 2023 by QM Digital Production team, led by Erin Fleming, and 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, led by director Abdulla Yousef al-Mulla.
Senior digital production specialist Pascale Abou Jamra produced the film aimed at documenting Qatar's fascinating and little-known history with football before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. In a press statement, Abou Jamra said: “My main objective was to show everyone how football has long been a vital aspect of Qatar’s heritage and culture. For me, the film and the story it tells represents a gift from Qatar Museums to the world.”
bou Jamra added: "The journey of producing this film was super inspiring. Not only did I get to meet and interview former football players who were pathbreakers in the history of football in Qatar, who shared with us their memories, their passion, and even their struggles but the most important thing, they all shared a deep respect for the vision of His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, who supported them wholeheartedly."
QM CEO Mohammed al-Rumaihi said: “On behalf of QM, we would like to express our gratitude for this prestigious recognition from Ficts. This award is testament to the importance of storytelling around sport, and for us, an example of how shared stories can cultivate constructive intercultural dialogues and connections.”
eaturing key voices from multiple generations of Qatar’s National Football Team, Qatar National Team coach Félix Sánchez, HE Hassan al-Thawadi, secretary general of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, and more, the documentary traces the journey from Qatar’s earliest experiences with football, early achievements, the sport’s explosive popularity under the leadership of His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, and finally leading up to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
In addition to the Guirlande D’Honneur 2024 Award, the acclaimed film was officially selected at the 2023 International Sport Film Festival and won "Best Short Film" at the 2023 Paladino d'Oro Sport Film Festival. Audiences can watch the film for free by searching QM’s YouTube channel, or directly visiting https://youtu.be/v-AdlVoRiZU?si=MZkLlNCUvyEldxHx.
