First ever ‘Drive-in’ cinema experience to enthrall movie lovers at this year’s Ajyal Film Festival
- 3 years ago
This year’s Ajyal Film Festival will bring an exciting communal film going experience to audiences in a unique Drive-in cinema experience at Lusail.
The 8th edition of the festival to be held from November 18 to 23 promises to have an exciting lineup of MENA and Qatar premieres. This year’s film fest will screen 80 films from 46 different countries including 22 features and 50 shorts and 31 films by Arab filmmakers.
This year’s Ajyal Film Festival is introducing a unique ‘Drive-in’ cinema concept for its movie screenings and Ajyal Tunes concert at Lusail. Movie buffs have an exciting experience to watch this year’s Ajyal movie screenings, in addition to the highly awaited Ajyal Tunes live concert, from the comfort of their cars. This one-of-its-kind experience in the history of Ajyal Film Fest will reiterate Doha Film Institute’s dedication and determination to provide an amazingly enthralling experience for their viewers despite the ongoing pandemic challenges.
Festival Director and Chief Executive Officer of DFI - Fatma Hassan Alremaihi commented, “We had to adapt Ajyal in a way that preserves the spirit of the festival and allows us to continue to experience the power of cinema. To inspire and to engage while keeping each other safe.”
“The challenges this year taught us important lessons in compassion and humanity. Most importantly, it forces us to adapt to a new altered reality,” Al Remaihi added.
Alremaihi also noted that the festival will be a hybrid event of online and in-person activities to ensure the creative vibrancy of Qatar while taking active responsibility for the physical health and safety of all participants.
A DFI tweet quoted Alremaihi: "We take great pride in our Ajyal community and believe now more than ever in the importance of meaningful connections in these trying times and exceptional circumstances."
This year’s Ajyal Film Festival will open with Majid Majidi’s Sun Children, one of the most acclaimed Iranian films of the year and an official selection of the Venice Film Festival - the movie tackles child labour and is a must-see for film buffs.
The first Egyptian and second Arab film to win a Short Film Palme d'or at Cannes 2020 - 'I am afraid to forget your face' will also be screened at Ajyal Film Fest.
Speaking at a Zoom meeting with local media, last month, Alremaihi stressed that DFI has been working closely with concerned government entities to ensure a safe festival for the young jurors with several options and opportunities for them to enjoy experiencing this year’s jury programme.
Safety precautions will be applied during the screenings including checking the Ehteraz app, body temperatures and ensuring required social distancing norms. The jurors will be watching the films with their peers in smaller groups, according to Alremaihi.
She also went on to comment, “I want to give the parents peace of mind. I want to assure them that when they register their kids, they have options. It can be online or if they want they can bring them to the festival to watch a film. We have every option available for everyone who cannot come but there are opportunities for people to come and enjoy the festival on the ground.”
“We’re working with the Ministry of Education. We’re talking to students in schools and universities to let them know that we are really working hard to deliver a safe festival, taking into consideration all necessary precautions. We’re working very closely with the Ministry of Public Health and all government entities,” Alremaihi added.
“Everything will be available online for anyone who registers as a juror; they can watch films, attend Q&A’s and Ajyal Talks. Jurors whose ages are 18 and above can come and watch all their films in Katara while those below 18 years old can watch one film at Katara one time,” she explained.
One of the online features of this year’s festival is the virtual juror’s hub, an online space where the jury members can meet their peers and their mentors and talk, she added.
This writer has been fortunate to have an association with Doha Film Institute since its inception in 2010 - in dual roles both as an accredited journalist who has covered most of the events and also for having acted in several promos and short films for the institute, apart from directing a documentary.
But this year’s eight edition of the Ajyal Film Festival promises to bring a unique experience to all film buffs considering not only the amazing films that are to be screened in a first ever ‘Drive-in’ concept but also due the great resilience and determination shown by DFI in keeping the festival on-going despite the pandemic situation with the motto – ‘The show must go on!’
This year’s film festival will run from November 18 to 23 and the Jury Competition programme will be from November 11 to 23..
Tickets for the festival are already on sale and can be purchased online via: www.dohafilminstitute.com/filmfestival
Comments