Doha Film Institute (DFI)’s ongoing special presentation series, “Masters of Illusion” - a part of DFI Cinema, is presenting the restored versions of three cult classics, The Mummy/The Night of Counting the Years (Al-Mumia’), Mirror and 8½’
The initiative highlights the importance of visual illusions in filmmaking to provide a real sensory experience, DFI has said in a statement.
The special programme at Katara Drama Theatre explores the world of visual perceptions created by master filmmakers to provide audiences with a cinema experience that tricks the mind through the art of deception. 
Included in the line-up is The Mummy/The Night of Counting the Years (Al-Mumia’) from Egyptian master Shadi Abdel Salam, which has been restored by Martin Scorsese’s Film Foundation World Cinema Project. 
The programme also includes screenings of the restored copies of Federico Fellini’s 8½ (Otto e Mezzo) and Andrei Tarkovsky’s Mirror for the first time in the Gulf region. 
Other titles included in the programme are The Matrix by the Wachowskis, Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth, The Prestige by Christopher Nolan and Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland. 
Pan’s Labyrinth (Spain/Mexico/US/2006) screens at 5.30pm today, The Matrix (US/Australia/1999) at 9pm today, The Mummy/The Night of Counting the Years (Egypt/1969) at 5.30pm tomorrow and 8½ (Italy/France/1963) at 9pm tomorrow. The series also includes a free family screening of Alice in Wonderland (US/2010) at 2.30pm tomorrow. 
Two of the films have already been screened - Mirror (Russia/1975) yesterday and The Prestige (US/UK/2006) on Wednesday. 
DFI’s Thematic Series, a part of DFI Cinema, provides cultural and creative discoveries for audiences in Doha all year long. The initiative is aimed at strengthening appreciation for the arts and contributing to the evolution of Qatar’s cultural fabric, and offers audiences in Doha the opportunity to view films that may not necessarily reach commercial cinemas. 
For ticket prices and more details, one can visit www.dohafilminstitute.com
Related Story