Festival Director and Chief Executive Officer at DFI, Fatma Al Rumaihi, speaking at a press conference for the 5th Edition of the Ajyal Youth Festival at Al Jazeera Media Cafe in Katara yesterday. Pic: Kammutty VP / The Peninsula
A multimedia exhibition on the current blockade will be one of the features of the fifth Ajyal Youth Film Festival scheduled from November 29 to December 4 at Katara Cultural Village, Doha Film Institute (DFI) announced yesterday.
Titled ‘LeBlockade’, the exhibition will showcase films, digital artworks and installations created by citizens and residents in response to the blockade.
“Ajyal 2017 is honoured to present the works of these champions at ‘LeBlockade’ - a multimedia exhibit of films, digital artworks and installations showcasing the creative movement that emerged in Qatar as a reaction to the blockade. Their works also highlight the importance of film as a powerful medium that raises awareness, clears misconceptions and counters the phenomena of fake news,” said Fatma Al Rumaihi, Chief Executive Officer at DFI at a press conference yesterday.
DFI Chief Administrative Officer and Ajyal Deputy Director Abdullah Al Mosallam, said, “The exhibit will provide a platform to 17 emerging filmmakers and 12 passionate artists who brought their unique vision to life in response to the allegations against Qatar. The exhibit will also host interactive talks with some of these champions who did not hesitate to celebrate their love for the country across all platforms standing in solidarity with the nation through unwavering optimism, patriotism and pride.”
The blockade has inspired creativity among citizens and residents with the huge number of works that were produced during this period.
“From the beginning, DFI has opened its doors to all those who want to express themselves, their emotions and their support for the nation and the leadership through film. More than 90 works have been produced during this period,” explained Al Remaihi, adding the Institute provided necessary support including facilities and expertise to the filmmakers.
The filmmakers produced beautiful works in order to counter fake news and shed light on the human factor of the blockade. The festival will provide a platform to these works, many of which have created impact via social media, she added.
Apart from the exhibition, DFI will provide other opportunities to showcase the works such as the Artist Night, “events that will help us shed light on these works especially those that were supported by DFI throughout the blockade,” she said.
“The residents of Qatar helped transform the negative impact of the ongoing unjustified blockade into stronger unity between citizens and expatriates, and a greater bond between us and our leadership, through visual art.
The people of Qatar celebrated their love for the country across all platforms, standing in solidarity with the nation through unwavering optimism, patriotism and pride,” stressed Al Remaihi. She also said it did not negatively affect it, in fact the festival has seen the most number of participating films throughout its history, despite the absence of participants from blockading countries.
