NU-Q alumna brings Qatari traditions to life with animation

Latifa al-Darwish, who graduated from Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q) in 2013, had her abstract animation film, Yaoum Al Om showcased at the Transition art exhibition, organised by Reconnecting Arts, at the Menier Gallery in London. The film, co-produced with Qatari cartoonist Abdulaziz Yousef, was part of a series of short informative videos called Ayooz News, which uses abstract animation to send an important message in celebration of Mother’s Day. “I’ve worked on several animation projects throughout the past few years, and most of them were related to raising awareness about an important social issue,” said al-Darwish, “I think it’s important to use my communications skills to spread messages that will improve my community and bring positive change.”  Al-Darwish graduated from NU-Q with a degree in communication. As an undergraduate she explored various forms of storytelling and research, and took courses in animation, filmmaking, screenwriting, and the history of film.  “The most valuable thing I learned at NU-Q is how to be a student in life,” said al-Darwish, “to continue to seek knowledge and education because, ultimately, that is how people develop, improve, and grow.” Al-Darwish is passionate about animation because it allows her to tell stories and revive traditional Qatari tales through creative work. Her first professional venture into the world of production began when she worked with JeemTV, an Arabic children’s channel. She also worked on a national road safety awareness campaign, Wransade, which targets Qatari youth through catchy animated videos that address some of their driving habits in a light-hearted way. Al-Darwish recently completed her master’s degree in culture and creative industry from Kings College London. She now works as a communication specialist for the Ministry of Defence, focusing her efforts on developing communication strategies to better inform the general public of the ministry’s achievements, mission, and vision. Al-Darwish was awarded a Qatari Film Fund from Doha Film Institute to produce a short film on anecdotal stories from Qatari culture. Her upcoming film, Ya Hootah, is currently in pre-production, set to be completed next year.