Joey Aguilar

The 7th edition of Ajyal Film Festival is all set to provide residents and visitors in Qatar the opportunity to watch and enjoy local, regional and international family-friendly films from today (November 18) to November 23 at Katara – the Cultural Village and Vox Cinemas.
Ajyal, Doha Film Institute’s (DFI) annual cinema event, brings together people of all ages to celebrate local, regional and international films for six days in its latest edition. 
“Our programme includes compelling dramas, captivating documentaries, and entertaining comedies – so there really is something for everyone and all ages to enjoy,” DFI said in an e-mail sent to Qatar Museums (QM) Culture Pass members recently.
According to DFI, the staging of this year’s Ajyal forms part of the Institute’s efforts to continuously support the local art community with the immersive storytelling experience dubbed as ‘ARC’. 
“Behind every great story is a compelling story arc. The word ‘ARC’ itself is a literary term for the path a narrative follows. 
It serves as a backbone by providing a clear beginning, middle, and end,” the Institute noted. “This year’s exhibition celebrates the ‘Art of Storytelling’ – a fundamental aspect of human nature.”
“The artworks are displayed chronologically through a three-act structure, dividing them into distinct parts – the setup, the confrontation, and the resolution,” DFI added.
The festival will also hold a documentary screening and discussion with the internationally-acclaimed artist Jean-Michel Othoniel.
Othoniel, in collaboration with QM, built a monumental art installation for the National Museum of Qatar titled ‘Alfa’, an impressive public art piece at the Hamad International Airport titled ‘Cosmos’, among others. “From drawings to sculpture, installation to performance, Othoniel exists in a universe of multiple contours. 
In this fascinating documentary, we gain an insight into the creative process of the internationally-acclaimed French contemporary artist and explore the inspiration behind his largest sculpture built to date, Alfa,” DFI said. “The screening will be followed by an insightful talk with the artist himself, moderated by Ghada El Khater.”
Ajyal 2019 also features several events and activities for the public (free entry) to enjoy while some shows and programmes require pre-booking.