Capturing the perspectives of children through film allows audiences to enter a youthful, inspiring world filled with wonder and challenges. As part of DTFF’s programming, the Festival is showcasing life through the eyes of children with a slate of seven films spanning diverse genres. The featured narratives capture how children react to the world around them as they grow and learn in a changing society.

Two films presenting this unique perspective are competing in the Festival’s Made in Qatar and Arab Film Competition. Jan Xavier Pacle’s ‘Angel in June’, participating in the Made in Qatar competition, narrates the story of 13-year old Angel, a kind and selfless girl who busies herself with making the world a better place, despite developing symptoms of a terrible illness. The film is inspired by real-life events and takes place in the Filipino community in Doha.

Competing in the Arab Film Competition’s Narrative segment is ‘Playground Chronicles’, by Brahim Fritah, following 10-year-old Brahim, who is increasingly aware of the complexities of the world around him. By setting the simple trials and jubilations of youth against a backdrop of social turmoil, the director imagines what childhood treasures Brahim will take with him into the future.

An additional four films are part of DTFF’s Contemporary World Cinema line-up and include Aida Begiĉ’s ‘Children of Sarajevo’, Radu Jude’s ‘Everybody in our Family’, Dominga Sotomayor’s ‘Thursday Till Sunday’, and Scott McGehee’s ‘What Maise Knew’. Another representation of this theme of storytelling is Majid Majidi’s classic ‘Children of Heaven’, which is part of the Special Screenings line-up. To learn more about these unique films, please read our press release.