Mohaq, Hilal, and Bader are the three competition categories in which the 12 feature films and 26 short films will be screened for the Ajyal Jury.
Ajyal Film Festival has selected 12 feature films, including several award-winning works by prominent and emerging filmmakers, which will be evaluated by nearly 600 jurors.
The special 10th edition of the Ajyal Film Festival is to be held from October 1 to 8.
The selected films celebrate diversity and cover a wide range of themes – from coping with grief, mental health, to breezy comedies about brotherly affection, and how the millennial generation is adapting to the realities around them.
The feature films and a broad selection of 26 short films will be screened for the Ajyal Jury in the three competition categories: Mohaq (jurors aged 8 to 12 years); Hilal (13 to 17 years) and Bader (18 to 25 years). They will watch the films, discuss with their peers from around the world and assess them to select the festival award winners.
Speaking about the selected films, Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Chief Executive Officer of Doha Film Institute and Festival Director, said: “Delivering inspirational stories of bonding, optimism and the human spirit to overcome trials using powerfully creative narratives, this year’s selection of feature films stand out for audacious themes that resonate with young people around the world.
“Many of the films have young protagonists who are successfully navigating the challenges around them in an increasingly complex world. The themes are handled sensitively and continue to convey messages of hope and positivity to inspire our youth to reflect, build important connections, and find a deeper understanding of the shared human experience.”
Feature films in the Mohaq category include Dounia & The Princess of Aleppo (Canada, France/2022), by Marya Zarif and André Kadi; The Apple Day (Iran, Turkey/2022), by Mahmoud Ghaffari; Bigman (Netherlands, Germany/2022) by Camiel Schouwenaar; and Dragon Princess (France/2022) by Jean-Jacques Denis.
Feature films screening in the Hilal category are After Yang (USA/2022) a science fiction drama written, directed, and edited by Kogonada; Comedy Queen (Sweden/2021) by Sanna Lenken; The Territory (Brazil, Denmark, USA/2022), by Alex Pritz; and prominent filmmaker, Ali Asgari brings his second feature supported by DFI, Until Tomorrow (Iran, France, Qatar/2022).
Feature films in the Bader category include Our Brothers (France/2022) by Rachid Bouchareb; Kash Kash – Without Feathers We Can’t Live (Lebanon, Germany/2022), by Lea Najjar; and My Sister Liv (Australia, USA/2022), by Alan Hicks; and Hafreiat (Spain, Qatar, Jordan/2022) by Alex Sardà.
