The ninth Ajyal Film Festival, presented by the Doha Film Institute (DFI), have announced the winners of the Ajyal Jury Competition and Made in Qatar Awards in a festive closing ceremony at Katara – the Cultural Village.
Notable guests in attendance included DFI Chairperson HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and HE Sheikh Thani bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, member of the DFI Board of Trustees, with Academy Award-winning sound editor Mark Mangini, Olympic athlete and filmmaker Alexi Pappas, journalist and activist Muna El-Kurd, and acclaimed photographer Brigitte Lacombe.
Addressing guests at the closing ceremony, HE Sheikha Al Mayassa said: “Ajyal Film Festival’s significance stems from the concept of art as a language that unites people.”
“It transcends borders and provides peaceful platforms for dialogue towards building a better society for all,” she said. “Cinema is an artform of dynamic creative expression contributing to enhancing awareness and achieving harmony between communities – another reason why Ajyal is incredibly important.”
"Art and culture is a catalyst to achieving Qatar National Vision 2030, which aims to promoting creativity and diversity, while preserving our identity and traditions in building a knowledge-based economy,” HE Sheikha Al Mayassa added.
The winners of the Made in Qatar Awards are:
* Best Narrative Award: *Olayan (Qatar, 2021) by Khalifa al-Marri
* Best Documentary Award: *And Then They Burn The Sea (Qatar, 2021) by Majid al-Remaihi
* Abdulaziz Jassim Award for Performance Award: Saleh Salem al-Marri for *Olayan
* Special Jury Mention: *Virtual Voice (Sudan, Qatar, 2021) by Suzannah Mirghani
The winners of the Ajyal Jury Competition Awards are:
** Mohaq category:
* Best Short Film Award: *Umbrellas by José Prats, Álvaro Robles
* Best Feature Film Award: *Poupelle of Chimney Town by Yusuke Hirota
** Hilal category:
* Best Short Film Award: *Olayan by Khalifa al-Marri
* Best Feature Film Award: *Captains of Zaatari by Ali El Arabi
** Bader category:
* Best Short Film Award: *When Beirut Was Beirut by Alessandra El Chanti
* Best Feature Film Award: *Little Palestine, Diary of a Siege by Abdallah El Khattib
** Audience Award:
* ORCA by Sahar Mossayebi
This year’s international Made in Qatar Awards Jury included actress Sheila Vand, executive board member and CEO of Katara Studios Ahmed al-Baker, and Farah Nabulsi, Oscar-nominated and Bafta award-winning filmmaker.
Jurors were divided into three age categories: Mohaq (8-12-year-olds), Hilal (13-17-year-olds), and Bader (18-25-year-olds).
Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, festival director and DFI chief executive, thanked the Qatari leadership, government entities, private sector partners, sponsors, volunteers, filmmakers, members of the jury and the community for their support to the success of the festival.
“Although we are sad to see the ninth Ajyal Film Festival end, our happiness at what we have successfully achieved together far outweighs our sadness,” she said. “The enduring impact of Ajyal is fuelled by cinematic and visual art that plays a crucial role in bringing positive change to our societies.”
“In addition to our Ajyal Jurors and their parents – who are the heartbeat of the festival – we are extremely grateful for the visionary leadership of HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, who is central to all of the DFI’s work, including Ajyal, and the unwavering support from our community that made this year’s edition a most memorable one,” Alremaihi added.
The week-long festival, held under the theme, *Press Play! signifying the aspirations of the community to return to normalcy, featured 85 films from 44 countries, including Qatar.
The programme showcased 31 feature films and 54 shorts from accomplished directors as well as first-time and emerging talent.
Twenty-two of the films are by Arab filmmakers.
Thirty-two films were helmed by women filmmakers – nearly one-third, highlighting the significant role of female talent.
Ajyal featured 13 films supported by the DFI, including recipients of the Spring/ Fall Grants, co-financing, Qatari Film Fund and mentorship through the year-long labs and development workshops.
The 2021 Made in Qatar programme, presented by Ooredoo, had 10 films representing promising homegrown talent and storytellers.
The seven-day festival featured a diverse mix of virtual and in-person events including film screenings, interactive discussions, multimedia art exhibit, Qatar’s largest pop-culture event “Geekdom”, and a drive-in cinema as part of a multisensory experience for all ages.
The 2021 Ajyal Film Festival’s official partners included Katara – the Cultural Village Foundation (as Cultural Partner), Qatar Tourism (as Principal Partner), Ooredoo (as Strategic Partner), and Qatari Diar, Msheireb Properties, and W Doha as Signature Sponsors.
Addressing guests at the closing ceremony, HE Sheikha Al Mayassa said: “Ajyal Film Festival’s significance stems from the concept of art as a language that unites people.”
“It transcends borders and provides peaceful platforms for dialogue towards building a better society for all,” she said. “Cinema is an artform of dynamic creative expression contributing to enhancing awareness and achieving harmony between communities – another reason why Ajyal is incredibly important.”
"Art and culture is a catalyst to achieving Qatar National Vision 2030, which aims to promoting creativity and diversity, while preserving our identity and traditions in building a knowledge-based economy,” HE Sheikha Al Mayassa added.
The winners of the Made in Qatar Awards are:
* Best Narrative Award: *Olayan (Qatar, 2021) by Khalifa al-Marri
* Best Documentary Award: *And Then They Burn The Sea (Qatar, 2021) by Majid al-Remaihi
* Abdulaziz Jassim Award for Performance Award: Saleh Salem al-Marri for *Olayan
* Special Jury Mention: *Virtual Voice (Sudan, Qatar, 2021) by Suzannah Mirghani
The winners of the Ajyal Jury Competition Awards are:
** Mohaq category:
* Best Short Film Award: *Umbrellas by José Prats, Álvaro Robles
* Best Feature Film Award: *Poupelle of Chimney Town by Yusuke Hirota
** Hilal category:
* Best Short Film Award: *Olayan by Khalifa al-Marri
* Best Feature Film Award: *Captains of Zaatari by Ali El Arabi
** Bader category:
* Best Short Film Award: *When Beirut Was Beirut by Alessandra El Chanti
* Best Feature Film Award: *Little Palestine, Diary of a Siege by Abdallah El Khattib
** Audience Award:
* ORCA by Sahar Mossayebi
This year’s international Made in Qatar Awards Jury included actress Sheila Vand, executive board member and CEO of Katara Studios Ahmed al-Baker, and Farah Nabulsi, Oscar-nominated and Bafta award-winning filmmaker.
Jurors were divided into three age categories: Mohaq (8-12-year-olds), Hilal (13-17-year-olds), and Bader (18-25-year-olds).
Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, festival director and DFI chief executive, thanked the Qatari leadership, government entities, private sector partners, sponsors, volunteers, filmmakers, members of the jury and the community for their support to the success of the festival.
“Although we are sad to see the ninth Ajyal Film Festival end, our happiness at what we have successfully achieved together far outweighs our sadness,” she said. “The enduring impact of Ajyal is fuelled by cinematic and visual art that plays a crucial role in bringing positive change to our societies.”
“In addition to our Ajyal Jurors and their parents – who are the heartbeat of the festival – we are extremely grateful for the visionary leadership of HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, who is central to all of the DFI’s work, including Ajyal, and the unwavering support from our community that made this year’s edition a most memorable one,” Alremaihi added.
The week-long festival, held under the theme, *Press Play! signifying the aspirations of the community to return to normalcy, featured 85 films from 44 countries, including Qatar.
The programme showcased 31 feature films and 54 shorts from accomplished directors as well as first-time and emerging talent.
Twenty-two of the films are by Arab filmmakers.
Thirty-two films were helmed by women filmmakers – nearly one-third, highlighting the significant role of female talent.
Ajyal featured 13 films supported by the DFI, including recipients of the Spring/ Fall Grants, co-financing, Qatari Film Fund and mentorship through the year-long labs and development workshops.
The 2021 Made in Qatar programme, presented by Ooredoo, had 10 films representing promising homegrown talent and storytellers.
The seven-day festival featured a diverse mix of virtual and in-person events including film screenings, interactive discussions, multimedia art exhibit, Qatar’s largest pop-culture event “Geekdom”, and a drive-in cinema as part of a multisensory experience for all ages.
The 2021 Ajyal Film Festival’s official partners included Katara – the Cultural Village Foundation (as Cultural Partner), Qatar Tourism (as Principal Partner), Ooredoo (as Strategic Partner), and Qatari Diar, Msheireb Properties, and W Doha as Signature Sponsors.
