The Doha Film Institute (DFI) announced a slate of 45 projects from 27 countries in various stages of production that will gain significant support through its annual industry incubator event, Qumra, to be held online from March 18 to 23, 2022.
In a statement, DFI CEO Fatma Hassan Alremaihi said: “Crucial to the success of filmmakers from the Arab region and beyond, Qumra has established itself as a rich showcase of quality, independent and creative films from around the world that has enabled filmmakers to realise their dreams and gain global acclaim.
Featured are 16 projects by Qatar-based talent, including 13 by Qatari nationals. Of 45 projects, 39 are recipients of the DFI’s Grants programme, 26 are supported through the DFI training programmes.
In all, 11 feature projects are in development, 17 feature projects in post-production, six in Qumra Series, and 11 are in Qumra Shorts. Twenty of the selected projects across shorts, features and series are helmed by women directors.
The 2022 Qumra Projects are the following:
Development- Feature Narrative: Al Baseer - The Blind Ferryman by Ali al-Fatlawi (Iraq, Switzerland, Qatar); The Photographer by Anas Khalaf (Syria, Qatar, Germany); The Teacher by Farah Nabulsi (Palestine, UK, Qatar); Blacklight by Karim Bensaleh (Algeria, France, Qatar); Khuzama by A J al-Thani (Qatar); The Pearl by Noor al-Nasr (Qatar).
Development - Feature Documentary: Chasing the Dazzling Light by Yaser Kassab (Syria, Qatar); My Dream to Fly by Asmaa Gamal (Egypt, Qatar, Lebanon); My Father Killed Bourguiba by Fatma Riahi (Tunisia, Qatar); Those Who Watch Over by Karima Saidi (Belgium, France, Qatar); When The News Breaks You by Hamad al-Hajri (Qatar).
Post-Production - Feature Narrative - Picture Lock: Mediterranean Fever by Maha Haj (Palestine, France, Qatar, Germany, Cyprus); The Dam by Ali Cherri (Lebanon, France, Serbia, Sudan, Qatar); The Last Queen by Damien Ounouri (Algeria, France, Qatar) ; The Return by Meyar al-Roumi (Syria, France, Germany, Qatar) ; Autobiography by Makbul Mubarak (Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Poland, Germany, France, Qatar); Domingo and the Mist by Ariel Escalante Meza (Costa Rica, Qatar).
Post-Production – Feature Narrative – Work-in-progress; The Wind Blew On by Katrin Olafsdottir (Iceland, Qatar, Chile, Spain); Backstage by Afef Ben Mahmoud and Khalil Benkirane (Tunisia, Morocco, France, Belgium, Norway, Qatar).
Post-Production - Documentary – Work-in-progress: A Fidai Film by Kamal Aljafari (Palestine, Germany, Qatar); Concrete Land by Asmahan Bkerat (Jordan, Qatar); Let’s Play Soldiers by Mariam al-Dhubhani (Yemen, Qatar); Qatar Stars by Danielle Beverly (Qatar, US) ; The Tokyo Reel by Mohanad Yaqubi (Palestine, Belgium, Qatar).
Post-Production - Documentary - Picture Lock: Places of the Soul by Hamida Issa (Qatar): Green Line by Sylvie Ballyot (France, Qatar): Khmerica by Antoine Guide (France, Cambodia, Qatar): While We Watched by Vinay Shukla (India, Qatar).
Series - Development: Under This Roof by Areej Mahmoud (Lebanon, Qatar); Out of My Mind by Mo Yusuf (Somalia, UAE, Qatar); Why Did The Bluesman Cross The Road by Meedo Taha (Lebanon, US, Qatar); Day Off by Lina Lamara (Algeria, France); Yasmine/Jasmine by Yossera Bouchtia (Morocco) ; Traditional Qatari Songs by Aisha al-Jaidah and Kholoud al-Ali (Qatar).
2022 Qumra Shorts: Short Narrative - Development (all from Qatar): I Wished for Solitude by Hamad Alfayhani, Abu Fanoos by Amira Abujbara and Horia El Hadad, Sandogi by Noor Alkuwari, The Line by Hitmi al-Hitmi, Mercy by Abdulaziz Mohamed.
Short Narrative - Post-Production - Work-in-progress: Kinship by Ali Alhajri (Qatar), A Simple Cut by Maha al-Jefairi (Qatar), The Swinging Chandelier by Karim Emara (Egypt, Qatar), Manity by Hussen Ibraheem (Lebanon, France, Qatar).
Short Narrative – Post-Production – Picture Lock: The Key by Rakan Mayasi (Palestine, Belgium, Qatar, France), A Proposal by Nadia al-Khater (Qatar).
The Blind Ferryman
Featured are 16 projects by Qatar-based talent, including 13 by Qatari nationals. Of 45 projects, 39 are recipients of the DFI’s Grants programme, 26 are supported through the DFI training programmes.
In all, 11 feature projects are in development, 17 feature projects in post-production, six in Qumra Series, and 11 are in Qumra Shorts. Twenty of the selected projects across shorts, features and series are helmed by women directors.
The 2022 Qumra Projects are the following:
Development- Feature Narrative: Al Baseer - The Blind Ferryman by Ali al-Fatlawi (Iraq, Switzerland, Qatar); The Photographer by Anas Khalaf (Syria, Qatar, Germany); The Teacher by Farah Nabulsi (Palestine, UK, Qatar); Blacklight by Karim Bensaleh (Algeria, France, Qatar); Khuzama by A J al-Thani (Qatar); The Pearl by Noor al-Nasr (Qatar).
Development - Feature Documentary: Chasing the Dazzling Light by Yaser Kassab (Syria, Qatar); My Dream to Fly by Asmaa Gamal (Egypt, Qatar, Lebanon); My Father Killed Bourguiba by Fatma Riahi (Tunisia, Qatar); Those Who Watch Over by Karima Saidi (Belgium, France, Qatar); When The News Breaks You by Hamad al-Hajri (Qatar).
Domingo and The Mist
Post-Production - Feature Narrative - Picture Lock: Mediterranean Fever by Maha Haj (Palestine, France, Qatar, Germany, Cyprus); The Dam by Ali Cherri (Lebanon, France, Serbia, Sudan, Qatar); The Last Queen by Damien Ounouri (Algeria, France, Qatar) ; The Return by Meyar al-Roumi (Syria, France, Germany, Qatar) ; Autobiography by Makbul Mubarak (Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Poland, Germany, France, Qatar); Domingo and the Mist by Ariel Escalante Meza (Costa Rica, Qatar).
Post-Production – Feature Narrative – Work-in-progress; The Wind Blew On by Katrin Olafsdottir (Iceland, Qatar, Chile, Spain); Backstage by Afef Ben Mahmoud and Khalil Benkirane (Tunisia, Morocco, France, Belgium, Norway, Qatar).
Post-Production - Documentary – Work-in-progress: A Fidai Film by Kamal Aljafari (Palestine, Germany, Qatar); Concrete Land by Asmahan Bkerat (Jordan, Qatar); Let’s Play Soldiers by Mariam al-Dhubhani (Yemen, Qatar); Qatar Stars by Danielle Beverly (Qatar, US) ; The Tokyo Reel by Mohanad Yaqubi (Palestine, Belgium, Qatar).
Post-Production - Documentary - Picture Lock: Places of the Soul by Hamida Issa (Qatar): Green Line by Sylvie Ballyot (France, Qatar): Khmerica by Antoine Guide (France, Cambodia, Qatar): While We Watched by Vinay Shukla (India, Qatar).
Series - Development: Under This Roof by Areej Mahmoud (Lebanon, Qatar); Out of My Mind by Mo Yusuf (Somalia, UAE, Qatar); Why Did The Bluesman Cross The Road by Meedo Taha (Lebanon, US, Qatar); Day Off by Lina Lamara (Algeria, France); Yasmine/Jasmine by Yossera Bouchtia (Morocco) ; Traditional Qatari Songs by Aisha al-Jaidah and Kholoud al-Ali (Qatar).
2022 Qumra Shorts: Short Narrative - Development (all from Qatar): I Wished for Solitude by Hamad Alfayhani, Abu Fanoos by Amira Abujbara and Horia El Hadad, Sandogi by Noor Alkuwari, The Line by Hitmi al-Hitmi, Mercy by Abdulaziz Mohamed.
Short Narrative - Post-Production - Work-in-progress: Kinship by Ali Alhajri (Qatar), A Simple Cut by Maha al-Jefairi (Qatar), The Swinging Chandelier by Karim Emara (Egypt, Qatar), Manity by Hussen Ibraheem (Lebanon, France, Qatar).
Short Narrative – Post-Production – Picture Lock: The Key by Rakan Mayasi (Palestine, Belgium, Qatar, France), A Proposal by Nadia al-Khater (Qatar).
