12th Ajyal Film Festival wraps up

The 12th Ajyal Film Festival, presented by the Doha Film Institute(DFI), concluded Saturday with the winners of the Ajyal Jury Competition honoured at a special ceremony held in Katara – the Cultural Village.The Ajyal Jury Competition winners were selected by more than 400 young jurors, aged 8-25, who watched 66 films from 42 countries in three categories: Mohaq (8-12 years), Hilal (13-17 years) and Bader (18-25).The award ceremony was attended by jurors, their parents, filmmakers and several distinguished guests.One of the special moments at the festival this year was the Ajyal in Gaza programme that screened films from Qatar for 90 young jurors in Gaza, who awarded the top honour to *Above the Tamarind Tree (Qatar) by Buthyna al-Mohammadi.The "Made in Qatar Awards”, which honour the works of Qatari and Qatar-based filmmakers, were evaluated by a three-member jury comprising acclaimed Palestinian actor Saleh Bakri, Kenyan filmmaker Debra Aroko, and Qatari filmmaker Amal al-Muftah.The winners are:Abdulaziz Jassim Award for Best Performance: Qatari filmmaker Ali al-Hajri for I Lay For You To Sleep.Best Director Award: Paul Abraham and Abdulla al-Hor for AlkalineBest Film Award: I Lay For You To Sleep (Ali al Hajri)The winners of the 2024 Ajyal Jury Competition are:Mohaq:Best Short Film Award: Bottles (Morocco) – Yassine ElIdrissiBest Feature Film Award: Block 5 (Slovenia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Serbia) – Klemen DvornikHilal:Best Short Film Award: Canary in a Coal Mine (Lebanon) – Dwan KaoukjiBest Feature Film Award: Searching for Amani (Kenya, USA) – Debra Aroko and Nicole GormleyBader:Best Short Film Award: Apoleon (Egypt, France) – Amir YoussefBest Feature Film Award: Thank You for Banking with Us (Palestine, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt) - Laila AbbasAudience Award: Sudan, Remember Us (France, Tunisia, Qatar) – Hind Meddeb.Addressing the audience, DFI chief executive and Ajyal festival director Fatma Hassan Alremaihi said: "While we hosted our screenings here, our hearts were with our neighbours who are undergoing great challenges.”"When 90 young jurors in Gaza found a way to participate in Ajyal despite everything happening around them, it showed me the true power of what we do,” she continued. "Their courage and determination to engage with cinema even in the darkest hours, reminds us of our purpose. It tells us why we can never stop telling stories of the wronged and the neglected.”"We have been inspired by how filmmakers respond to the changes around them,” Alremaihi said. "Through our support to young, emerging and independent voices, we have underlined the power of film to break barriers and form positive bonds through cultural exchange and understanding."With the DFI approaching its 15th year in 2025, the official said: "As we look ahead to a new chapter with the Doha Film Festival, the Ajyal spirit remains.”"Our young jurors have always been the driving force behind the festival, and they will to be central to next year’s exciting new chapter in film and storytelling,” Alremaihi said. "Ajyal means generations, and what we have built together is a legacy for future generations.”"We told a magnificent story and we are about to tell another filled with hope and excitement, and will continue to champion the voices of underrepresented communities," she concluded.