Ajyal Film Festival Opening in Doha: Messages of Hope

On Saturday afternoon, the twelfth session of the Ajyal Film Festival opened at the Cultural Village Foundation (Katara) in Doha, when the feature-length documentary film “Sudan Ya Ghali” by director Hind Al-Madab was presented in the ‘ his first exhibition in the Middle East. The festival continues until November 23, with screenings and events at various venues, including Katara, Sikkat Wadi Musheireb, Lusail, and VOX Cinemas in the Doha Festival City.

Messages of hope at the opening of the Ajyal Film Festival

At the opening ceremony, the Minister of Education and Higher Education Lulwah bint Rashid Al Khater gave a speech in which she welcomed the stability of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, and made special reference to children who represent hope in the face of tragedy. She also spoke about the resilience of women in Sudan, and presented an honorary award to the child Mahmoud Ajour, who came from Gaza to receive treatment after losing both of his hands.

For her part, the CEO of the Doha Film Institute and the Director of the Festival, Fatima Hassan Al-Rumaihi, spoke about the journey of the Ajyal Festival since its launch in 2013, and she announced the plans of the Doha Film Festival for the year 2025. She emphasized that the festival will reflect the dreams and aspirations of filmmakers from around the world, noting the importance of cinema as a means of achieving change and increasing people’s understanding. He also mentioned the decision to cancel the previous session of the Ajyal Festival due to… Israel’s war on GazaShe confirmed that the institution, despite being suspended, did not stop showing films and discussions under the program “Voices from Palestine”.

A different program

The Doha Film Institute also announced the allocation of the “Voices from Palestine” program, which presents films by Palestinian directors that reflect the reality of daily life under siege. The program includes a group of short films, including “From Distance Zero” and “Jenin Jenin,” as well as other works documenting the suffering of the Palestinian people. During this year, the festival will present five Qatari films as part of the “Made in Qatar” program, including films such as “Leave to Remember”, “Alkali” and “Brashna”, which dealing with themes of loss and suffering. individuals facing challenges. Al-Rumaihi expressed her pride in presenting these films, stressing that they reflect the cultural and creative diversity that characterizes Qatari society.

In its edition this year, Fèis Ajyal will present 66 films from 42 countries, including 18 feature films and 48 short films, dealing with issues of resilience, hope and community empowerment. In addition to film screenings, the festival organizes interactive events, exhibitions and discussions, including a “Geek-End” competition for electronic game fans.