The selected films will be showcased in prominent sections of the festival, including Orizzonti and Orizzonti Shorts, as well as in the sidebar events such as Critics' Week, Giornate degli Autori, Final Cut and the Venice Gap-Financing Market.
The 81st Venice International Film Festival, set to take place from August 28 to September 7, 2024, will feature 12 films supported by the Doha Film Institute (DFI). These films, representing a diverse range of countries including Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia and Yemen, underscore DFI’s commitment to supporting independent voices in global cinema.
With a mission to reshape how audiences perceive the world through film, the 2024 edition of the festival will highlight some of the most acclaimed filmmakers from around the globe, offering a wide array of storytelling perspectives. The selected DFI-supported films will be showcased in key sections of the festival, such as Orrizonti and Orrizonti Shorts, as well as in the sidebar events including Critics’ Week, Giornate degli Autori, Final Cut and the Venice Gap-Financing Market.
Speaking about the selected films, Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Chief Executive Officer of Doha Film Institute, said: “We are thrilled to continue a successful festival season with a strong representation of Arab talent at Venice. These films provide fresh perspectives on life, reflecting human hopes, aspirations, and challenges, and bring important voices from the Arab world to a global audience. Our goal is to support independent filmmakers, and the impressive selection at Venice is a testament to our dedication to showcasing stories that transcend borders and offer unique viewpoints. We hope these films receive the recognition they deserve.”
The DFI-supported films scheduled to screen at Venice 2024 include Aïcha, Happy Holidays, Shadows, Sudan, Remember Us, Perfumed with Mint, Aisha Can’t Fly Away, In This Darkness I See You, My Father’s Scent, Those Who Watch Over, Marie & Jolie, The Station and Theft Of Fire.
In addition to these films, over 35 projects from the Arab world and the global south, supported by the Doha Film Institute, are being featured in the “Your Ghosts Are Mine: Expanded Cinemas, Amplified Voices” multi-media exhibition at ACP-Palazzo Franchetti. This exhibition, on display until November 24, 2024, is produced by Qatar Museums and co-organised by DFI, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, and the future Art Mill Museum in collaboration with ACP Art Capital Partners. It offers a comprehensive journey through contemporary community life as seen through the eyes of today’s filmmakers from the Arab world and neighbouring regions.
Selected for the Orizzonti section, an international competition showcasing films that embody the latest in aesthetic and expressive trends, is Aïcha by Mehdi Barsaoui. The film follows Aya as she leaves her old life in Tozeur and embarks on a transformative journey in Tunis. Another film in this category is Happy Holidays by Scandar Copti, which tells the story of a student whose involvement in a minor accident triggers a series of unforeseen events.
In the Orizzonti Shorts section, Shadows by Rand Beiruty will be featured. The film captures Ahlam’s first experience at an airport, where her excitement is overshadowed by the sadness of leaving her past behind.
Sudan, Remember Us by Hind Meddeb, featured in the Giornate degli Autori section, presents a collective portrait of a generation fighting for freedom through their words, poems and chants. It follows a group of politically active and artistically creative Sudanese youth in their twenties.
Screening at Critics’ Week is Perfumed with Mint by Muhammed Hamdy. The film tells the story of Alaa, a 30-year-old doctor, and his friend Mahdy, who seeks help with a strange affliction.
Four films supported by the Doha Film Institute are included in the Final Cut workshop, designed to offer crucial assistance in completing films. Aisha Can’t Fly Away by Morad Mostafa explores the life of Aisha, a caregiver for elderly patients in Cairo, as she navigates the tensions among African migrant communities. In This Darkness I See You by Nadim Tabet follows Tarek, a 30-year-old Syrian working at a construction site in Lebanon, where he faces harsh conditions.
My Father’s Scent by Mohamed Siam delves into the strained relationship between a son and his father, who returns home after a long absence. Meanwhile, Those Who Watch Over by Karima Saidi is inspired by the director’s mother, a first-generation immigrant in Belgium.
Additionally, three films supported by DFI have been selected for the Venice Gap-Financing Market. Marie & Jolie by Erige Sehiri tells the story of two women in a new country, each striving to find her place.
The Station by Sara Ishaq follows Layal as she manages a women-only fuel station while struggling to keep the family business afloat during a fuel crisis.
Theft Of Fire by Amer Shomali depicts a Palestinian artist who embarks on a daring heist inside a prison.
