Abdulrahman Najdi (third from left) and other trainers at the film workshop for women
A filmmaking workshop “The Voices of Women” has been launched at the Girls Creativity Centre.
Ten Qatari girls in the age group from 17 to 25 will get the opportunity to learn and make films at the workshop.
At the end of the project,  five documentary and short films will be made by the participants, based on the happenings in their lives. The students will be imparted lessons on the technical features of the film industry.
Techniques concerning cameras, film scenes, sound, editing and electronic montage are among the sections covered in the workshop, which is headed by film director and senior official of the Qatar Cinema and Film Distribution Company Abdulrahman Najdi.
The workshop aims to spread awareness about the film culture and it also enables a number of Qatari girls to demonstrate their talents and abilities in filmmaking, said Najdi.
“The workshop provides the Qatari girls the opportunity for demonstrating story telling abilities and getting practical experience. It helps them express their views and perspectives on a number of issues of interest to the individuals and nation,” he said.
The films produced at the end of the workshop will be screened and discussed in a series of workshops and cinema festivals as well as documentary festivals. It will eventually be posted on the Internet for further discussion.
The training plan includes preparing the students theoretically and practically to decode the language of the image as a powerful mass communication tool.
The theoretical training will include careful reading of the history of the cinema and filmmaking, beauty of the picture, cinema making and related techniques.
The practical training sessions includes filmmaking skills such as use of the camera and its other characteristics,  script writing, managing actors, and film budgeting and directing.
Girls Creativity Centrehas played a significant role in discovering talented girls. These girls will have the opportunity to make special films based on Qatar’s cultural heritage.
The workshop is supported and funded by the US- Middle East Partnership Initiative. The projects  aim to empower women, increase opportunities for youth, develop economic opportunities and boost civil society participation.