8th Ajyal Film Festival helps create a legacy of inclusion and exchange
The hybrid edition of the event included 22 features and 58 shorts; 31 from the Arab World; 30 by women filmmakers and 24 films supported by the Institute
THE first hybrid edition of the 8th Ajyal Film Festival, presented by the Doha Film Institute (DFI) under the theme ‘The Show Goes On,’ presented an exciting film and cultural program for audiences in Qatar and beyond as recently concluded.
From open-air cinema to art shows and motivational online lectures, Ajyal 2020 presented an ambitious combination of virtual and in-person film screenings, coupled with the highest level of health and safety, to ensure the safety of all attendees. The festival started with a glamorous red carpet function at the Katara Cultural Village, followed by the screening of Sun Children (Iran/2020) by Iranian director Majid Majidi, who made his debut at the 77th Venice International Film Festival earlier this year.
Ajyal 2020 featured 22 features and 58 shorts, including 31 from the Arab World and 30 from women directors. Bringing together award-winning filmmakers from around the globe, Ajyal continues to amplify powerful voices and inspire generations of filmmakers.
The captivating program Made in Qatar, presented by Ooredoo, has returned to celebrate the exciting growth of filmmaking in the country with an inspiring slate of 16 films by Qatari directors and Qatari filmmakers. The jury of Made in Qatar consisted of filmmaker Kamal Aljafari, composer Dana Al Fardan and producer Marie Balducchi. Delivering cinema magic to audiences for the fifth time, Made in Qatar: Inclusive Experience, presented in partnership with the Translation and Interpreting Institute (TII) of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Hamad bin Khalifa University made film accessible to film enthusiasts of all abilities.
The Ajyal Talks showcase focused on leadership, creativity and sustainability. Audiences had the opportunity to engage in virtual discussions with international human rights hero and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Dr. Alaa Murabit, youth climate activist Sophia Kianni, and Qatar’s leading female contemporary composer, Dana Al Fardan.
Featuring an unmissable selection of films from classic family-favourites to edgeof-your-seat horror, Ajyal launched its first-ever Drive-In Cinema experience in partnership with Qatar National Tourism Council at Lusail as part of a multisensory experience for all ages, aimed at bringing the community together at safe social distances and in line with government guidelines, with the health of all Ajyal participants as top priority.
Delighting audiences with a transformative one-stop cultural extravaganza, the Ajyal Creativity Hub returned with Qatar’s largest pop-culture event Geekdom, presented in partnership with Qatar National Tourism Council. Ajyal Tunes invited audiences to explore the mesmerising power of melody at Ajyal’s Drive-In Cinema in Lusail with three exhilarating night-time concerts.
In the meantime the highly anticipated in-person element of the Ajyal 2020, ‘Outbreak’ art exhibition at Sikkat Wadi Msheireb featured inspiring original works by 24 local artistic talents that creatively represent and honor global action and solidarity. In exploring the individual isolation and separation of artists, ‘Outbreak’ challenges the public to consider the various aspects that can affect - and at times inspire - our worldview from the current pandemic. From 10 AM – 10 PM, Saturday to Thursday and from 2 PM until 10 PM Friday the exhibition will remain open until the public.
The Festival culminated in a ceremony to celebrator the awards, where the winners of the Ajyal Jury Competition and Made in Qatar Competition were announced. Winners were selected by an international Ajyal Jury – with many jurors joining virtually from around the world – divided into three age categories: Mohaq (8-12 year old), Hilal (13-17 year old), and Bader (18-25 year old) to evaluate a selection of shorts and feature films.
2020 Ajyal Film Festival’s Official Partners include: Katara Cultural Village Foundation – Cultural Partner; Qatar National Tourism Council – Principal Partner; Novo Cinemas, Ooredoo – Strategic Partner, Msheireb Properties, Lusail, Qatari Diar – Signature Sponsors.