Exploring the world’s altered reality through artistic interaction, the Doha Film Institute’s (DFI) 8th Ajyal Film Festival is presenting the ‘Outbreak’ art exhibition at Msheireb Downtown Doha, the flagship project of Msheireb Properties.

Featuring inspiring works of art from 24 local talents, the selected artworks reflect the new reality of our world as it faces a period of instability and uncertainty, and pays tribute to the brave frontline workers and modern-day heroes who sacrifice their lives daily for our safety.

Building on the success of the past three exhibitions, this year’s Ajyal exhibition welcomes visitors from November 19 to December 10, Saturday to Thursday between 10am and 10pm, and Friday between 2pm and 10pm at Sikkat Wadi Msheireb as part of the Festival’s initiative to expand audience access to innovative multidisciplinary creative programmes to inspire and unite the community.

As a much-anticipated in-person event of the first-ever hybrid edition of Ajyal, ‘Outbreak’ is presented in line with government guidelines and with the health of all visitors as the top priority.

“This year’s thought-provoking multimedia exhibition ‘Outbreak’ demonstrates the powerful rise of creativity and innovation out of adversity, challenging us to consider the many facets of how the current pandemic can affect - and sometimes inspire - our world view,” DFI CEO and festival director Fatma Hassan Alremaihi said in a press statement.

“Twenty four local artists skilfully mix themes and expressions to transform their unique trails of isolation and separation in a global pandemic outbreak into the driving force of a very different kind of outbreak – a uniting one of creative inspiration, hope and potential, reminding us of our innate ability to rise up and triumph over hardships to determine a brighter future,” she added.

Participating artists include: Ali al-Mannai, Ibrahim al-Baker, AJ al-Thani, Shouq al-Manaa, Hamad al-Fayhani, Noor al-Nasr, Mohamed al-Suwaidi, Saad al-Muslamani, Roda al-Thani, Bothayna al-Zaman, Anfal al-Kandari, Maryam a-Homaid, Mohamed al-Hammadi, Marsya Abdulghani, Elie Fahed, Abdulaziz Yousef, Maryam al-Suwaidi, Adriane De Souza, Paul Valentine, Sharefa al-Mannai, Reem al-Haddad, Maha al-Subaey, Nasser al-Kubaisi, and Ghada al-Khater.

DFI noted that tickets for the festival are now available for online purchase. Official partners include: Katara – the Cultural Village (Cultural Partner); Qatar National Tourism Council (Principal Partner); Novo Cinemas, Ooredoo (Strategic Partner), and Msheireb Properties, Lusail, Qatari Diar (Signature Sponsors).