Palestinian motor-racing documentary Speed Sisters and animated film Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet (France, Lebanon, Qatar, USA) will be among the highlights of this year’s feature films at the Ajyal Youth Film Festival.
Speed Sisters is an action-packed and “insightful” documentary about the Middle East’s first all-woman motor-racing team while Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet is an adaptation of Gibran’s beloved book directed by Roger Allers (The Lion King).
A number of high-profile Middle East and North Africa feature films which tackle modern-day social issues will also be showcased at the festival. This includes Difret by Zeresenay Mehari, Ethiopia’s official entry for Best Foreign Language Film at this year’s Academy Awards.
Difret, executive produced by Angelina Jolie, the film tells the tale of the kidnapping of a 14-year-old girl on her way home from school.
Another film, #chicagoGirl: The Social Network Takes On a Dictator follows the life of a young Syrian woman as she assists the revolution in her home country – from her bedroom in Chicago.
Animation also continues to be a popular theme at the festival this year with the screening of the visual masterpiece The Tale of Princess Kaguya (Japan) by Japanese anime director Isao Takahata.
Song of the Sea (Ireland, Denmark, Belgium, Luxembourg, France) by Tom Moore is also expected to captivate the audience. It is an animated adventure inspired by the Ancient Irish legend of the selkies.
Jordanian director Naji Abu Nowar will present Theeb (Jordan, Qatar, UAE, UK), a coming-of-age story of a Bedouin boy who embarks on a perilous journey across the desert as the Ottoman Empire crumbles.
The Brazilian animated feature The Boy and the World (Brazil) by Ale Abreu illustrates the issues of the modern world through the eyes of a child. It won the best feature and audience prizes at this year’s Annecy International Animated Film Festival.
Another film, Whiplash (USA) by Damien Chazelle, is a story of a teenager’s dreams of becoming a jazz musician. It won the audience and grand jury prizes at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
Some of the highlights of the short film programmes include the Iranian black comedy A Ceremony for a Friend by Kaveh Ebrahimpour, the UK/Italian sci-fi The Nostalgist by Giacomo Cimini, Finnish/Turkish Keys of Heaven by Paratiisin Avaimet, set during the Iran-Iraq War.
It also includes two UK short films, Hijabi Girls by Nada al-Hudaid which celebrates the world of high fashion and Shackled by Nour Wazzi, starring Game of Thrones actress Emilia Clarke.
“Film lovers of all ages will find this year’s programme rich with opportunities to explore and engage with the many interesting films and subject matters that are highlighted – from magical tales of the sea and nature, to the world of music and contemporary issues of social change and transformation,” said Festival director and Doha Film Institute acting CEO Fatma al-Remaihi in a statement.
Special guests have confirmed to attend the festival include a delegation from Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet such as producer/actress Salma Hayek-Pinault, director Roger Allers and chapter directors Joan Graetz and
Mohammed Saeed Harib.
Speed Sisters director Amber Fares will be in attendance for the opening night along with the team members who star in the documentary.