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• Ajyal Jury in three age-groups from 8 to 21 years will evaluate the films showcased at the third edition of the festival from Nov 29 to Dec 5
• Fun, collaborative environment to appreciate cinema, meet filmmakers and forge lasting friendships with youngsters from around the world

Doha, Qatar; September 1, 2015: The Doha Film Institute has opened the call for young film enthusiasts aged 8 to 21 years to be on the Ajyal Jury responsible for choosing the winners in the third edition of the Ajyal Youth Film Festival, taking place from November 29 to December 5, 2015.

The Ajyal Jury will watch films, analyse them, vote for their favourites and select the winners of the Ajyal Competition, made up of short and feature length films from around the world. They will also meet film directors and actors who are attending the festival, take part in workshops to learn more about filmmaking techniques and experience a wide range of fun activities to be held across Katara Cultural Village during the seven days of the Ajyal Youth Film Festival.

Last year’s VIP guests included Salma Hayek-Pinault who presented her animated feature film ‘Khalil Gibran’s The Prophet’ to the Ajyal jurors and said of the experience: “This is the first time I have experienced this idea of a youth festival and it has been amazing. It was fascinating for all of us to be able to have an interaction with the Ajyal jurors, it is a way to hear their voices and to know what is going through their minds.”

Fatma Al Remaihi, Chief Executive Officer of the Doha Film Institute and Director of the Ajyal Youth Film Festival, said: “Our young jurors are indeed at the heart of the festival and we look forward to welcoming back those who have participated in the past along with those joining us on this cinematic journey for the first time.”

“Inviting young people to take part – not as spectators but as active participants in the event – reflects our commitment to nurture a deep understanding of film in the younger generation and open their minds, through cinema, to the experiences of young people around the world.”

Last year, Ajyal welcomed 450 young jurors of 45 nationalities, who judged the festival films in three sections – Mohaq (meaning new moon), Hilal (crescent moon) and Bader (full moon). This year the Doha Film Institute invites young people to serve on the Mohaq, Hilal and Bader jury with an expanded Mohaq section this year to include feature films in competition for the first time.

Jurors aged 8 to 12, the youngest in the Ajyal Jury, will watch a programme of short films and four feature-length films in the Mohaq section. Hilal jury is open for young people in the 13 to 17 years age-group; they will watch and evaluate a programme of short films and five feature-length films. Bader jurors, in the 18 to 21 age group, will select their favourite films from five features and two programmes of short films.

Registration for the Ajyal Jury is open from September 1 to October 25, at dohafilminstitute.com/ajyaljury. For details, contact: ajyaljury@dohafilminstitute.com

Doha Film Institute also offers Ajyal Jury members the opportunity to take part in international events through its partnerships with like-minded organisations. For the past three years, six jurors were selected to participate in the international youth jury of the Giffoni Film Festival, the largest film festival for children in the world.

The third edition of the Ajyal Youth Film Festival will feature popular initiatives including The Sandbox digital exhibition space, outdoor screenings and the Doha Giffoni Youth Summit industry gathering.