Emerging filmmakers find their voice in cinema through DFI despite pandemic

When the pandemic nearly shut down the global film industry, emerging filmmakers in Qatar and the region received a rare opportunity to continue to move their projects forward, with the support of Qumra, the annual talent incubator for Arab cinema of the Doha Film Institute (DFI).

Their journeys navigating the last year’s new format of virtual mentorship sessions were shared at this year’s expanded edition, where participants were able to see these projects continue to come to fruition.

Presenting a diverse selection of stories, some inspired by the pandemic, many other narratives that have evolved over years, the Qumra Projects shorts and TV/web series reflect how emerging filmmakers view the medium of cinema.

Mohamed Berro, director of 'A Tarmac Year' (Qatar/Arabic) about two Lebanese cousins who hijack a plane demanding the release of political prisoners, said he was inspired to make the dark comedy series after “finding dark funny elements in the hijackings. What started as a research for a documentary became compiling a list of odd occurrences in these incidents and high-tension political events.”

He said there is growing interest in the region in web series, which are also increasing in quality and number.

Meshaal al-Abdulla and Ibrahim al-Abdulla, two Qatari entrepreneurs, aim to expand their web series, 'The Rise of the Mad Cat' (Qatar/English), “into many seasons to reach various media channels and penetrate the US box office as a movie.”

About the 3D animation project, Ibrahim said: “We have been in the gaming and animation industry since our childhood. The project is derived from a game we are working on, which will hopefully be released soon.”

Meshaal added that they have tried to “make this comedy in a way that we wanted the viewer to have a different perception of comedy itself. Some people may perceive it as just comedy or nonsense comedy; others may see it as being born in the wrong place at the wrong time and some may feel there are different things that can happen, which can change your lives.”

Another key project in development in the genre of TV series is independent filmmaker Ahmad Samara’s 'Oddity Tales from a Strange Land' (Jordan, Qatar/Arabic). The coming-of-age story that follows a girl named Aya, who leads viewers through a collection of stories that present ancient historical tales and mythologies from the Arab world, also shows the eclectic nature of filmmaking by young Arab talents.

Abdulla al-Janahi, a Qatari filmmaker who co-directs 'Revenge Knows Nothing' (Qatar/English/2021) with Abdulaziz Khashabi, a Qatari engineer and filmmaker, combines two stories in a creative manner showcasing the horrific effects of human injustice and selfish actions on its victims – humans and otherwise.

He said the approach in making the short film was to bring a '3D Disney style': “We wanted to deliver a new experience that reminds viewers of classic Disney films,” while telling a riveting tale. “That one of the consequences of cruel actions of humans on others, the animal kingdom and the environment is revenge. While we do not promote revenge, we believe it was important to present this very sensitive topic.”

Qatari filmmaker Abdulla al-Hor brings 'The Experiment' (Qatar/Arabic), a short narrative about a bullied 30-year-old researcher who must prove that his prisoner rehabilitation experiment works, or risk being fired and losing face to his nemesis.

Having worked on other projects, mainly in the cinematography, al-Hor said his first film as director is a “comedy of sorts set in an imaginary world. It presents serious social and universal concerns in a funny way. At Qumra, it was great to have the feedback of my mentors, which was a motivational boost for me, especially since it was my first project. The support they show added to my confidence.”

A Yemeni-Kenyan visual storyteller based in the GCC, Shaima al-Tamimi presents her short documentary 'Don't Get Too Comfortable' (Yemen, US, The Netherlands, Qatar, UAE/Arabic, English, Swahili/2022), in which she shares a heartfelt multimedia letter addressed to her paternal grandfather reflecting on her family's journey of migration and resettlement.

She described it as a deeply personal project, which embodies all her feelings for her grandfather. She said the pandemic was a blessing in disguise enabling her to concentrate on the project, as she traced her ancestral path through a series of interviews and research.

Qatari filmmaker Ali al-Hajri’s 'Kinship' (Qatar/Arabic (Qatari Bedouin) is a short narrative in which a shadow emerges with the birth of his newborn and Khalid, the protagonist, must come face to face with his past to live his future.

He said the film is a simple premise of parenthood but explores deeper into the personal anguishes people store in their minds and how they find cathartic relief.

Aisha al-Muhannadi, a Qatari filmmaker whose work is influenced by cultural experiences, presents her short 'Al Fanar' (Qatar/Arabic) about a young woman who is left alone in her neighbourhood after her father ventures to sea and finds her life suddenly takes a tragic turn. She said the film, with a bold topic on abuse, is important as the subject is regarded by many societies as a “taboo to discuss”. This is an ode to such victims, who go through mental trauma through no fault of their own.

'A Simple Cut' (Qatar/Arabic) by Qatari filmmaker Maha al-Jefairi is about a young girl who goes to ridiculous lengths to hide her haircut from her overbearing mother. The film shows everyone from teenagers to adults that life is not a fairy tale. Other shorts in the Qumra Projects include 'Let’s Play Soldiers' (Qatar/Arabic/2021) by Mariam al-Dhubhani about a 16-year-old child soldier who follows in his older brother's footsteps.

The role that DFI played was best summarised by Ali al-Hajri, who said: “The DFI was nothing but helpful. They created the opportunity for me to write the film through the pandemic, paired with a scriptwriter to mentor the script. Now in this year’s Qumra, I have people coming forward to say they will produce the film. Qumra is a very collaborative venture and the kind of forum where people give you time to talk about your projects.”