By Joseph Varghese/Staff Reporter
Several young Qatari filmmakers are participating in Qumra, the latest initiative of Doha Film Institute, with their projects that are under various stages of development.
A total of 29 projects with an emphasis on first- and second-time filmmakers, including independent filmmakers from Qatar and recipients of funding from DFI have been selected to participate to Qumra.
During a media roundtable yesterday, some of them highlighted their initiatives and the efforts they have put in to develop them. Many of them stated that they had several requirements such as feedback on their scripts, legal advice, mentorship and funds among others.
Ahmed Ibrahim al-Baker, who is the director of the feature film In Search of Adam, said that his film is a scientific fiction. “The script has been completed and was written by me along with a friend of mine. We are looking into the other aspects of the film and getting into the
production part.”
He added, “We have formed a company ‘Innovation Films’ that will look into the production of the film. The company has been in existence for several years now. But all the funding for our projects comes mainly from our personal investment. So far, we have produced 12 short films and one feature film. We have also opened an office in Katara.”
Al-Baker also said that he co-wrote and directed the feature film, Lockdown: Red Moon Escape, in 2011. The film was screened at the Doha Tribeca Film Festival and the Gulf Film Festival in 2012.
Khalifa Abduallah al-Muraikhi, another filmmaker, said that he is in the per-production of a feature film Sahaab from his own screenplay. Clockwise  which he also wrote, was the first feature film made in Qatar.
Al-Muraikhi said, “Filmmaking is just a movement in Qatar and other GCC countries. There is no film industry in these countries or many of the other Arab countries except Egypt. Therefore, filmmaking has to evolve a lot in these countries and DFI initiatives are a great boost in this regard.”
Several filmmakers, most of them very young, commented that that their productions are in different stages of development and need assistance and support. They also said that most of the Qatari filmmakers are full time employees and they had to find the resources for the projects from their own income.
Some of the leading projects that were discussed during the media interaction are Beyond by Nora al-Subai, Little River by Shaikha al-Thani, Madmen’s Fort by Narimane Mari, Parijat by Hend Fakhroo, Scales by Shahad Ameen and Superpower by Mohamed
al-Mahmeed.