The selection spans 28 features, 11 shorts and six series in different stages of development and production from 21 territories.
The Doha Film Institute (DFI) has selected 45 projects that will participate in the eighth edition of its annual talent incubator Qumra, taking place online from March 18-23.
The event will be hosted virtually for the third year due to ongoing health concerns and travel restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The selection spans 28 features, 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.
Features in development include Oscar-nominated Palestinian filmmaker Farah Nabulsi’s debut feature The Teacher and Syrian director Anas Khalaf’s The Photographer, and Blacklight by Karim Bensaleh, among others.
The feature documentary in development includes Chasing the Dazzling Light by Yaser Kassab, My Dream to Fly by Asmaa Gamal, My Father Killed Bourguiba by Fatma Riahi, Those Who Watch Over by Karima Saidi, and When The News Breaks You by Hamad al-Hajri.
Six post-production – Feature Narrative has been selected, which includes Mediterranean Fever by Maha Haj, The Dam by Ali Cherri, The Last Queen by Damien Ounouri, The Return by Meyar al-Roumi, Autobiography by Makbul Mubarak, and Domingo and the Mist by Ariel Escalante Meza.
Meanwhile, Post-Production – Feature Narrative – Work-in-progress include The Wind Blew On by Katrin Olafsdottir, Backstage by Afef Ben Mahmoud, and Khalil Benkirane.
Films in other categories include A Fidai Film by Kamal Aljafari, Concrete Land by Asmahan Bkerat, Khmerica by Antoine Guide, Under This Roof by Areej Mahmoud, Traditional Qatari Songs by Aisha al-Jaidah and Kholoud all, I Wished for Solitude by Hamad Alfayhani, Abu Fanoos by Amira Abujbara, Kinship by Ali Alhajri, A Simple Cut by Maha al-Jefairi, and A Proposal by Nadia al-Khater.
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.
