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Doha, Qatar; December 4, 2014: On Friday (December 5, 2014), the 2014 Ajyal Youth Film Festival, presented by the Doha Film Institute, will come alive to the colourful spectacle of children from across Qatar flaunting their superhero and cosplay costumes as they celebrate the screening of Antboy and The Tale of Princess Kaguya, two of the eagerly awaited movies that appeal to the young and young at heart.

The red carpet ceremony at Katara Opera House at 2 PM will be attended by the talents associated with the films as well as dozens of children and youngsters walking down in joyful abandon, dressed in their favourite superhero and cosplay character costumes.

Directed by Ask Hasselbalch, Antboy (Denmark, Danish, 2013) is about a 12-year-old boy who assumes super strength after being bitten by a strange ant. The film explores the themes of belonging, growing up and finding one’s place in the world. It will screen at 3 PM at Katara Opera House.

A visual masterpiece, The Tale of Princess Kaguya (Japan, Japanese, 2013) is directed by acclaimed director Isao Takahata. Turning to the 10th century Japanese folktale, believed to be one of the first works of science fiction, the anime is about a bamboo cutter who finds a baby girl in the folds of a bamboo shoot and takes her home to his wife. The couple soon realizes that the baby has magical powers. The film will screen at 4.30 PM at Katara Drama Theatre.

Film lovers can also cheer talented filmmakers in the country at the screening of the Made in Qatar 2 showcase, which features works by Qatari directors and those who call the country home. The screening at 5 PM at Katara Opera House includes seven independent productions: After My Death directed by Mohamed Al Hamadi; Coucou by Meriem Mesraoua; Hind’s Dream by Suzannah Mirghani; Kings and Queens of Qatar by Shamir Allibhai; Lumiere by Aisha Abduljawad; Public Phone by Ethar Ahmed Hassaan and Leena Al-Musalmani; and Temsah by Latifa Al-Darwish and Rouda Al-Meghaiseeb.

‘Made in Qatar 2’ also includes six winners from the Tarsheed Short Filmmaking Competition organised in collaboration with Kahramaa in celebration of Earth Day 2014 to raise awareness about water and electricity conservation.

As part of the Ajyal Events, the Doha Film Institute also presents an ‘In Conversation’ session with Roger Allers, the director of The Lion King. His extraordinary adaptation of Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet is the Closing Night gala at the Ajyal Youth Film Festival. He will discuss with Mohammed Saeed Harib, the creator of Freej and a contributor to Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet, compelling insights into the beautiful art of animation. The session is free for the public and will be held at Katara Drama Theatre at 8 PM.

Also on Friday, the Ajyal Youth Film Festival will screen director Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (USA, New Zealand; English; 2012) as part of the SONY Pop-Up Cinema line-up. The screening is free of charge and guests can reserve tickets online as well as for the In Conversation session at www.dohafilminstitute.com; seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Tickets to other screenings can be purchased from Box Offices at Ajyal Festival Booth in City Center Mall, West Bay; Doha Film Institute Drama Theatre Ticket Outlet (Katara Building 16) and Ajyal Katara Main Box Office (Katara Building 12).