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Cinema of Qatar

Cinema in Qatar is a relatively young industry that was kickstarted as part of the country’s big plans to develop different local sectors with the aim of gaining international recognition and acclaim. Many major steps were taken to implement a plan to develop the infrastructure as well as giving opportunities to local talents to have a platform that establishes their presence within the film industry with the support of the Doha Film Institute, and their various grants, workshops and festivals. Qatar’s 2030 vision have 3 major pillars to development: human, social economic and environmental; this vision provides frameworks that enable the development of different elements within Qatar and its society; one of which is the high importance put on developing and cultivating artistic talents to represent and define Qatar on a global scale . Another important element in developing the movie industry is the influence and vision of Sheikha Al Mayassa who founded Doha Film Institution, the establishment of film as a mode of storytelling was imperative because it serves the purpose of granting Qatar a global presence; through the talents that are supported and cultivated because of her initiative . What the film industry in Qatar allows is the amplification of an identity that represents not only Qatar, but the Arab world as a whole. Another important entity in in cultivating and establishing the film industry in Qatar is the Culture, Arts and Heritage initiative under Qatar’s ministry of foreign affairs who have a strategy that aims to organize and encourage events that focus on providing a foundation for the youth of Qatar to utilize in improving their positioning within the culture. The ministry organizes events that revolve around advancing local talents; events such as lecture, as well as theatrical and musical troupes as well as providing access and grants to locals interested in pursuing a career in film .

The Doha Film Institute (DFI)

Doha Film Institute Logo

The Doha Film Institute (DFI) is an independent production house that was founded in 2010 by her highness Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani . The company aims to contribute to the growth of the local film community in Qatar . It provides funding and production services for shorts and features of local, international, and regional films. Along with funding, DFI aids the grantees with their pre-production, production, and post-production processes. The Doha Film Institute mentors and educates filmmakers in and out of Qatar with the development of their films .

DFI-produced and/or funded films are premiered in popular annual film festivals in Qatar such as Ajyal Film Festival, Qumra, and Doha Tribeca Film Festival .

The Doha Film Institute provides educational programs, workshops, and information sessions to nurture the growth of prospective filmmakers. DFI also plans to host more than 100 experts in the film industry to mentor Qumra projects .

DFI also invests in film production by partnering with film projects and co-financing them . Productions include a 3D animated: Birds Like Us by Faruk Šabanović and Amela Ćuhara , a Grand Prix awarded film: Grain by Semih Kaplanoğlu , and a Museum of Modern Art exhibited: Looking for Oum Kulthum by Shirin Neshat in collaboration with Shoja Azari .

Film Festivals

Katara's amphitheater in which festival films premiered

Doha Tribeca Film Festival

The Doha Tribeca Film Festival was an annual film festival held from 2009 to 2012. It emanated from a collaboration between the Doha Film Institute and Tribeca Enterprises. Celebrities such as Robert De Niro, Salma Hayek, Adel Emam, Mira Nair, and Kevin Spacey attended the festivals. The festivals and premieres took place in Katara every year as well as The Museum of Islamic Art, Doha in 2012. The DTFF premiered up to 87 films from all around the world .

Ajyal Film Festival

“Ajyal” is a word that translates to Generations in Arabic. This film festival is something that DFI—Doha Film Festival initiated in 2012. This festival opens the ground for people to be a part of conversations that involve the crucial elements of art, including films, entertainment and creativity. The focus of this Festival revolves around aspects of cinema and being more aware and encouraging engagement in film-centric dialogues. The purpose of this festival is to cultivate and encourage regional and local talents to partake in the event. Moreover, this festival is meant to showcase the opportunities that come hand in hand with exposing the society to the essential lessons of being more aware of artistic ways of self-expression and the effectiveness of filmmaking as a tool of commentary regarding cultural, societal and political topics.

The ways in which this festival cultivates and encourages local and regional talents is by giving recognizing local talents and giving them awards for their contributions and hard work. The winners of Best Films are given funding for their next projects. These endorsements allow the continuation allows the local talents to further their career and mark their name within the growing industry. The awards and recognition also helps promote and encourage future content and talents to be more prevalent and seek to establish their presence and passion for filmmaking, which serves the overall goal of establishing the film industry to be more widespread and recognized, internationally. The winners are determined by audience voting alongside a jury of professionals that determine the outcome.

Ajyal also utilizes their festival for cultivating young talents that have an interest in film making industry, by implementing volunteering from people aged 18 and above. The volunteers are guaranteed to gain exposure and experience in their involvement with the festival. The experience of interacting with industry professionals and being able to have contacts from within the world of film as well as attending screenings and have hand-on knowledge from people heavily integrated within the business.

Made in Qatar is a section within the Ajyal Youth Film Festival that provides a platform for filmmakers based in Qatar to showcase their work to the local and international community. The selection includes short fiction films, short documentaries, and short experimental films. An award is given to the best film in each of those categories.

Qumra

Qumra is a part of Doha Film Institute’s (DFI) enterprise that provides services such as developing films and mentorship opportunities for aspiring filmmakers . Every year Qumra collects innovators from the worlds of film, technology, and television to give talks to inspire and share their knowledge with the public . People have the opportunity to choose from the 13 events they offer; including masterclasses with world-renowned filmmakers, script consultations, industry screenings and many more .

Qatari Film Fund

Doha Film Institute (DFI) opens their call for admissions annually between 1-19 of September, accepting short and feature length film proposals for development. This offers a platform for local talents to produce their films, and they accept up to 8 films every year . Although the funding guidelines for short and feature films share similarities, there are a few fundamental differences. For instance, short films must include a Qatari national as a director . Animated shorts must be 7 minutes long, Narratives up to 12 minutes and Documentaries up to 30 minutes long . Adding to that, directors are not allowed to be working on other projects during this time . Moreover, projects that are in production or post-production are not eligible, however, if the applicant applied for funding in previous years and were not accepted, the same project can be used for re-application . When it comes to feature films, applicants must have produced at least one short film to be considered . The process of applying for funding includes contacting the film fund and submitting the project per the guidelines offered to be evaluated by the committee . Adding to that, once the project has been selected, it will be shortlisted and the applicant will receive an invite to conduct an interview with the committee in order to discuss the logistics of the project . Lastly, a final notification will be received by the applicant that reveals whether or not the project was accepted . In the case that it isn't, the applicant will receive feedback on how to improve it and the opportunity to reapply in the next cycle .

Qatar Film Fund's funded projects:

1001 Days (Aisha Al-Jaidah, 2015)

Al Tabbab (Khalifa Al Mana, 2017)

Al-Johara (Nora Al-Subai, 2015)

Amphitheater (Mahdi Ali Ali, 2017)

Boy Meets World (Naif Hassan Al-Malki, 2016)

Connect (Maha Al-Jefairi, 2017)

The DNA of Love (Hafiz Ali Ali, 2015)

Elevate (Hamida Issa, 2016)

End Of The Road (Ahmad Al-Sharif, 2017)

Fragile (Kholood Al-Ali, 2017)

A Journey To From Love (Abdullah Al-Mulla, 2015)

Kakashi (Yousef Al-Madadi, 2015)

Khuzama (A.J Al-Thani, 2017)

Little River (Shaikha Al-Thani, 2015)

Nasser (Shaikha Al-Thani, 2015)

Nasser Goes To Space (Mohammed Al-Mahmeed, 2017)

Olayan (Khalifa Al-Marri, 2017)

Our Time is Running Out (Meriem Mesraoua, 2015)

Pastimes (Majid Al-Remaihi, 2017)

The Pearl Banks (Ahmed Al-Khulaifi, 2017)

Red (Kholoud Al-Ali, 2015)

Sh’hab (Amal Al-Muftah, 2015)

Superpower (Mohamed Al Mahmeed, 2015)

The World is Blue (Amna Al-Binali, 2016)

Ya Hoota (Latifa Al-Darwish & Abdulaziz Yousif Ahmed, 2016)

Notable Qatari Films

Clockwise (2010) was the first full-length feature film to be shot in Qatar, by director Mubarak Al-Muraikhi. The film showcases Khaleeji and Qatari culture and tradition as it showcases local folklore. After a near death experience, Saad delves into the art of pearl diving and fishing. The lead characters were played by Ali Hassan, Abdullah Hamed, Maysa’a Maghribi, and Salah Darwish. The film was produced and funded by the ministry of Culture.

Black Gold (2011) is a French-Qatari Film released in 2011, directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud and is based on the novel South of the Heart: A Novel of Modern Arabia by Hans Ruesch. This movie was shot between two locations: Qatar and Tunisia making it the largest project undertaken by the Arab world cinematically . Black Gold is an epic historical war picture that revolves around The Arabic Peninsula during the 1930's oil boom in the region . The story showcases two Emirs that were divided due to the oil industry, shedding lights about themes of tribalism in the region and the inner workings of cultural identities and conflicts that arise within this part of the world. This movie adaptation of Ruesch's novel speaks about the indigenous realities of the Arab world when the oil industry boomed and the uproar of development and entry of modernity into the lives of people in the region. This movie captures the transition that oil has introduced into the region, transitioning it from the desert it was into the thriving cities it was becoming to be with oil acting as the catalyst that spearheaded the change.

Notable Qatari Directors and Filmmakers

Ahmed Al-Baker started his career in filmmaking started in 2009. He wrote, directed and produced his first feature film The Package: Volume 1. The film was produced in Doha by the film production company Innovation Production, which was co-founded by Ahmed Al-Baker along with his peers. Interested in sci-fi horror and thriller genres, Ahmed created Lockdown: Red Moon Escape and the TV series Medinah .

AlJawhara Al-Thani's (a.k.a A.J. Al-Thani) love for movies was sparked when she first watched Star Wars at the age of six. AJ's journey as a filmmaker began when she participated in a filmmaking workshop offered by the Doha Film Institute, and since then she had continuously developed her skill as a filmmaker with DFI's support. AJ's first short film Kashta (2016) won Best Narrative award at Ajyal's Made in Qatar section. She is currently developing the script for her feature film Khuzama, a film about a Bedouin girl who embarks on an adventure far away from home.

Hamida AlKuwari's career in filmmaking started when she made her first short film 15 Heartbeats (2011) which premiered at Doha Tribeca Film Festival. Her second short film Elevate (2017) tackles the troublesome relationship between a Qatari women, and her maid. Hamida is currently working on her first feature film documentary, To The Ends of the Earth which documents an environmental expedition to Antartica. Having worked on this film, Hamida became the first Qatari woman to visit Antarctica.

Hend Fakhroo's first short film His Name (2012) documented a friendship between a Qatari woman and a cleaner. Hend's second short film, The Waiting Room (2016) also explored a friendship between two women who come from different backgrounds. The film screened at various festivals including the Ajyal Youth Film Festival, Beirut International Film Festival, and Malmö Arab Film Festival. Hend is working on her first feature film.

Amal Al-Muftah started making films in high school. She made her first short film Al Kora (2013) during an introductory filmmaking workshop at DFI. Amal's second film was a documentary called Al Hamali (2014), which gained more than 100 thousand views on Youtube in less than one week. Amal resumed her work on fiction films with Smicha (2016), and Sh'hab (2018). Both of those films won the Best Narrative at Ajyal's Made in Qatar section.

Qatari Production Houses

The Film House

The Film House is an award winning commercial production house in Qatar. The Film House specializes in photography as well as filming. They also provide filmmakers with services such as script development, pre-production, production, and post-production. They not only target film production, but also take on televised advertising campaigns, film festivals, social media outlets, digital signage, and public art installations. Their films include Hend Fakhroo’s The Waiting Room, A.J. Al-Thani’s Kashta , and Nouf Al-Sulaiti’s Gubgub .

Innovation Films

The first Qatari organization specialized in TV and Film production; in partnership with Hollywood, Innovation Films aims to produce and distribute high-quality films on an international level. The vision of Qatari Director Ahmed Al-Baker was to connect the two cinematic worlds and develop Qatar’s talent through classes such as directing, producing and script writing. They offer the chance to work on feature films, short films and commercials to give options to the aspiring talent. What Innovation Films is most proud of is that 80% of employees are local. Feature films such as Lockdown: Room Escape (2012), In Search of Adam and The Package along with shorts I (2013), His Name (2013) and Bidoon (2012) have all come out of Innovation Films .

Talent

The Talent Factory is the biggest talent agency in Qatar. They provide access to contacts such as actors and performers who are willing to work in films, theatre, TV shows, and even events. Currently, there are more male actors (44) than female actresses (9) . These actors mostly perform in TV shows and plays rather than films. However, with the growth of Qatari cinema, more acting roles for Qataris will be expected.

Cinema Operators

The major cinema operators in Doha are Vox, NOVO and Flik.

Vox

Owned by Majid Al Futtaim Cinema; one of the region's most prominent entertainment and successful businesses, VOX Cinema can be found in over 30 locations across the region . With screens in both the Middle East and North Africa, Vox designs its experience fitting to its location to ensure the audience feels right at home .

Novo Cinema Screen

NOVO

Qatar is home to 39 Novo Cinemas screens that can be found in shopping centers such as Mall of Qatar, 01 Mall, The Pearl and Souq Waqif . Novo provides its customers with viewing experiences ranging from 2D cinema to the luxurious 7-star VIP treatment . When it comes to their snack options, Novo Cinemas provides its customers with the latest trends in the snack industry such as frozen-ice popcorn along with the option of ordering from gourmet menus that are served to your seat . Adding to that, Novo also offers its screens to non-cinematic events such as live viewing of sports and the opportunity to book private viewings .

Flik

Flik Cinemas is a local business in association with Al Mana Group . They have 12 screens across two locations; Lagoona Mall and Mirqab Mall that promise to provide the 5-Star treatment to its customers . Since Flik is fairly new, there aren’t many sources on the business.

Foreign Films Shot in Qatar

Bediuner (1959) is a documentary film shot by Danish photographer and filmmaker Jette Bang in 1959 as part of the Danish Expedition to Qatar. The film documents the lives of al-Na’im and al-Murrah Bedouins over the course of two and a half months .

Cruel Summer (2012) is a 7-screen film directed by musician Kanye West which premiered in the Cannes Film Festival. The film featured Arab and Gulf Artists such as Hayat Al-Fahad and Ali Suliman. This film was shot in multiple locations within the Gulf region including Qatar. In the making of this film, so many Arab figures were heavily included. This film is notable due to the service it did in putting Qatar on the map within the film industry by showcasing its potential in supporting the arts of filmmaking and placing local talent names under the global spotlight .

The Worker’s Cup (2017) is a film directed by Adam Sobel. it is about the labor camps of Qatar with African and Asian migrant workers building and prepping the facilities of the 2022 world cup . This movie draws on the reasons why labor work for those individual workers the film focused on was a hopeful and worthwhile shot for providing for their families back home. Although the movie does shed light on the cruel and unfair circumstances of people within the work force, Sobel sheds light on a universal story that resonates with soccer fans and people everywhere .