DFI opens submissions for Ajyal Film Festival for the Young

Doha Film Institute (DFI) has announced that the first edition of the Ajyal Film Festival for the Young will take place from 26 to 30 November, 2013. The Ajyal Film Festival for the Young engages families and educators through an annual celebration of the best in international youth cinema, and year-round activities that enrich film appreciation. By bringing generations together through events that inspire creative interaction, Ajyal opens up a fun collaborating environment where young people can express their views on the various issues they face today.

The five-day festival consists of the Doha Film Experience – which includes a feature narrative (41 mins and over) competition and a short film (under 40 mins) competition – and the Made in Qatar/Students sections. The festival also features family-friendly special screenings, thematic retrospectives and tributes, while masterclasses for students of all ages, workshops for children, parents, teachers and industry professionals and panels will aim to enhance film education and appreciation.

Submissions are now open for the Ajyal Film Festival for the Young for the Short films competition and Made in Qatar/Students section. Entry is open to documentary and narrative films from around the world that are for or about youth. Submissions close 25 August, 2013.  There is no entry fee and films can be submitted digitally via a secure link or by mail.

The Made in Qatar/Students section showcases student films that have been shot in Qatar, or made by individuals of any nationality who currently reside in Qatar.

Competition winners will receive a film development award through the Ajyal Film Fund. A total of four filmmakers will be awarded the film development prize for short films and feature films. All awards are open to both documentary and narrative films.

The Doha Film Experience also gives several hundred young people the opportunity to sit on the juries that decide the winners of Ajyal’s competition, which is presented in three age-appropriate programmes:

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• Mohaq (New Moon) for jurors 8 – 12 years of age (Short Film Competition, documentary or narrative)

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• Hilal (Crescent) for jurors 13 – 17 years of age (feature and short film competition, documentary or narrative)

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• Bader (Full Moon) for jurors 18 – 21 years of age (feature and short film competition, documentary or narrative)

“We are pleased that submissions are now open for the Ajyal Film Festival for the Young, a first of its kind in the Gulf region” said Fatma Al Remaihi, the Festival Director of the Ajyal Film Festival for the Young and DFI’s Head of Programmes.

“Film education and appreciation are central to engaging young people in cinema. The Doha Film Experience, including our programmes for jurors and prizes for filmmakers, and our Made in Qatar/Students sections will make it fun for younger audiences and their families to be involved in film and filmmaking at this new festival. It’s an investment in today’s youth – so it’s really an investment in the future. Our aim is to encourage today’s young people to take on the challenges of the future, so they can become the artists and professionals of tomorrow.”