We may only be three weeks into the New Year, but Doha Film Institute’s Gulf Film Development (GFD) team has already kicked off what’s set to be an exciting year with a slew of inspiring activities. A host of unique workshops for aspiring filmmakers looking to enhance their skills is at the forefront of DFI’s cinematic agenda. This new slate of workshops will take place throughout 2013, exploring every aspect of the creative and technical process of filmmaking, encouraging participants to hone their skills, help build Qatar’s fast-growing film industry, and enhance the regional film community. As an extension of the institute’s inaugural Gulf-based screening series, ‘Hekayat Khaleejiyah,’ DFI launched its 2013 initiatives with ‘The Art of Screenwriting’ Workshop, held at Northwestern University’s production building in Education City and taught by acclaimed Emirati screenwriter, Mohammed Hassan Ahmed (Sea Shadow).

‘The Art of Screenwriting’ Workshop taught by , Mohammed Hassan Ahmed.

Participants prepared for the course with a screening of SEA SHADOW (held at the Museum of Islamic Art), which explores the struggles of a group of young Emiratis on their journey towards adulthood. Unique to “The Art of Screenwriting’ workshop is the emphasis placed on Khaliji themes and storytelling.

Over the three day workshop 29 participants were mentored in the development of their story ideas. Participant, Nada Al Saadi commented on the importance of this workshop on her filmmaking:

‘This workshop has helped me discover the world behind the visuals of a film, how to write a scenario, build it into a script and how to develop characters. One of the most influential things I have learned is how to avoid struggling with the first idea that comes to your mind, and to keep working on your craft and discover the different directions that you never thought were possible.’

Hosted by one of Qatar’s leading film and media institutions – Northwestern University – ‘The Art of Screenwriting Workshop’ is one of many vocational training initiatives to be launched this year, as DFI seeks to provide long-term creative development to aspiring filmmakers in Qatar and the region. In the coming weeks, the Gulf Film Development team is also launching ‘AKKAS CINEMA’: an intensive 7-Day Cinematography workshop taught by DFI’s resident Director of Photography Thomas Hines, who is eager to impart his practical knowledge garnered from years within the international film industry:

‘The objective of the workshop is to introduce experienced and establishing filmmakers to new elements in lighting and cinematography; elements that are often overlooked by formal institutions that teach film. I learned more about film in my first three months on a film set than I did in three years at a film school. A true understanding of filmmaking is cultivated through experience; therefore I am going to impart my practical knowledge of lighting and framing through engaging hands-on activities. Ultimately, I hope participants will draw upon their experiences and implement new techniques in their filmmaking.’

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In addition to Screenwriting and Cinematography, DFI’s Gulf Film Development is also currently running the Maisha Documentary Lab from January 14th – 27th. Maisha Lab (founded by Mira Nair, director of the recent DFI production THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST) has had a long and productive relationship with DFI, having taken aspiring filmmakers from Qatar to filmmaking workshops in Zanzibar and Uganda since 2010. This year DFI and Maisha have teamed up to give 16 students the opportunity to be taught by world-class Documentary filmmakers right here in Doha. Participants are immersed in an intensive 2 week documentary-making Lab, teaching every stage of production (from initial concept to preproduction, shooting and editing) that will lead to the completion for 4 finished films. One participant, Souad Hosni Al-Doss, took a moment to talk about her experience in the Maisha Workshop thus far:

‘If I want to create my own film in the future this workshop has helped me understand this challenging process. Before I came, I didn’t have a great interest in all the elements of film, but having learned about film treatments and script development, I now want to create my own film. With the intensive twelve-hour days I have no home, no family and no social life; there is only collaboration and film. We have all bonded through the process of learning from the instructors and experts.’

Mira Nair with Maisha Documentary Lab students.

DFI will shortly publish a list of filmmaking workshops coming up in 2013; including Acting for the Camera, Directing, Producing, Transmedia and Editing. For more information about Gulf Film Development’s upcoming workshops and intiatives, and to sign up for our mailing list, please click here.