DFI Celebrates Qatari Talent at Annual Artists Night Gathering

Doha, November 25 (QNA) -In the run up to the third Ajyal Youth Film Festival, the Doha Film Institute hosted its annual gathering for the Qatari creative community, to acknowledge and encourage nationals associated with the filmmaking and creative industries in Qatar. The event brought together over 120 home-grown talents who have contributed to the growth and development of the industries, strengthening Qatar's rich cultural fabric and regional presence within the art and cultural space. The event also unveiled highlights of the upcoming Ajyal Youth Film Festival and invited them to actively participate in the Festival, and support the next generation of local creative talent. A key highlight of the evening was a special tribute to the late Mohammed Lingawi, a popular children's television host and performer who has inspired generations of Qataris with his talent and will always be remembered for his kindness, integrity and commitment to the development of the local film scene. Headlining key events planned for the 2015 Ajyal Youth Film Festival are the premiere screenings of four diverse films supported by the Doha Film Institute including the Middle East Premiere of The Idol, from Academy Award-nominated Palestinian filmmaker Hany Abu-Assad, world premiere of animated feature film Bilal, the regional premiere of Mir-Jean Bou Chaayas outstanding debut feature Very Big Shot and the Middle East premiere of Yared Zelekes first feature Lamb, Ethiopias official entry to the 88th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film and the first Ethiopian film to screen at the Cannes Film Festival where it premiered earlier this year. Raising the curtain on the 2015 Ajyal Youth Film Festival, The Idol (Palestine, UK, Qatar, Netherlands/2015) screening on 29th November tells the inspirational true story of Mohammad Assaf, an amateur singer from Gaza, who became a worldwide sensation after winning the live-singing competition Arab Idol in 2013. Director, Hany Abu-Assad and Arab Idol champion Mohammed Assaf, whose life story the film is based on, will attend the opening night in Doha on November 29th and will also participate in a special In Conversation session on 30th November. The talented duo will provide an in-depth discussion about bringing Assafs life story to the big screen and highlight the power of combining music and cinema and the challenges facing Arab artists today. (QNA)