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6th edition of Ajyal Film Festival to once again bring generations together to celebrate the power of film

Doha, Qatar; September 26, 2018: The Doha Film Institute has opened invitations for 8 to 21-year-olds based in Qatar and around the region, to be Ajyal Jurors and gain fascinating insights into the world of cinema and its power to shape minds. The Ajyal Film Festival, now in its sixth edition, is an annual cultural event by the Doha Film Institute that brings the entire community together, and is designed to empower the regions youth and foster their creativity, through the medium of film.

At the very heart of the festival, taking place from November 28 to December 3, the jurors will be responsible for picking its eventual winners. Being an Ajyal Juror is a highly-creative learning experience that instils an appreciation of cinema as well as the values of teamwork, critical thinking and leadership. As jurors, they will not only watch and discuss the films but also discover cinema from a fresh perspective and get the opportunity to make lasting friendships with young people from across the world.

Fatma Al Remaihi, Chief Executive Officer of the Doha Film Institute, said: “The Ajyal Film Festival is now recognised as a distinctive voice in cinema, that not only puts the spotlight on our youth and their creative aspirations, but also brings the entire community together to celebrate films that have the power to shape minds and perceptions.

“Over the past five editions, we have seen many young people return regularly to be an Ajyal Juror, growing with the festival, that has given them an opportunity to explore new horizons of creative and cultural understanding. This year, we are further reiterating Ajyal’s founding objectives of bringing generations together to celebrate the power of film, as reflected in the renaming of the Festival. Ajyal gives its audiences an opportunity to not only watch compelling stories of hope and empowerment, but also become a voice for positive influence within their communities.”

To register to be an Ajyal Juror visit: https://www.dohafilminstitute.com/ajyaljury. The last date for application is November 1, 2018. For more information or queries, email: ajyaljury@dohafilminstitute.com.

Last year more than 500 jurors of 54 nationalities served as Ajyal Jurors, who had an opportunity to view films not just from the perspective of entertainment but as a medium that can bring about positive social change. Categorized into three competition segments – Mohaq, Hilal and Bader, Ajyal jurors not only judge films but also attend workshops, panels and discussions, centered around the power of film.

Ajyal Jurors are in three categories: The youngest jurors, aged 8 to 12, watch a programme of short films and four feature-length films in the Mohaq (meaning New Moon in Arabic) category. Ajyal jurors aged 13 to 17 make up the Hilal (Crescent Moon) jury, who will watch five feature films and a programme of shorts.

The most mature of the categories, Bader (Full Moon) jurors are aged 18 to 21 and will watch and vote for their favourite films from five features and a programme of shorts. The juror’s programme will be held from 2:30 to 7:30 PM daily during Ajyal Film Festival.

The Ajyal Jurors get to meet the film directors and actors attending the event, take part in workshops on filmmaking techniques and language, and be part of the diverse breadth of activities that will be held as part of the annual Ajyal Film Festival.

The Festival also presents daily public screenings, special presentations, Cinema Under the Stars, Family Weekend activities, in-depth discussions through the Ajyal Talks series, among others. More details on the sixth annual Ajyal Film Festival will be announced in due course. Last year, the festival screened 103 films from 43 countries, including 20 feature films and 83 short films, illustrating the ability of storytelling to transcend borders, transform minds and touch hearts.