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• Occidental Petroleum returns as Principal Partner, joined by Ooredoo this year; Qatar Tourism Authority is the Strategic Partner
• Katara Cultural Village to host the Festival from November 29 to December 4
• Over 27 confirmed partners; 17 returning partners and 10 new organisations highlight their confidence in Ajyal’s role in developing youth and fostering the country’s emerging film scene

Doha, Qatar; November 23, 2017: Leading public and private sector entities have confirmed their support to drive the success of the fifth Ajyal Youth Film Festival, the annual celebration of film, organised by the Doha Film Institute from November 29 to December 4 at Katara Cultural Village.

One of the most awaited events in Qatar’s cultural calendar, the Ajyal Youth Film Festival brings people of all ages together through screenings and events that inspire creative interaction and stimulate cinematic dialogue. The Festival is highlighted by public screenings of films, interactive discussions, workshops, red carpet events, and an array of community-focused events that appeal to all members of the family.

The fifth edition of Ajyal Youth Film Festival marks the renewed commitment by Katara Cultural Village as its Cultural Partner, having served as host venue for all editions of the Festival to date. Continuing its support from the first year of the festival’s inception, Occidental Petroleum Corporation is the Principal Partner, joined this year by Ooredoo, the telecom giant. Qatar Tourism Authority is the Strategic Partner, underlining the joint efforts with Doha Film Institute to promote the country’s tourism and hospitality sectors.

Fatma Al-Ghanim, Director of Marketing and Communications at the Doha Film Institute, thanked the partners for their support of the festival and its mission.

She said: “The success of the festival owes a great deal to the support extended by our partners, who have been instrumental in helping us deliver a better festival every year. The year-on-year success of the event has attracted growing support from Partners as Ajyal solidifies itself as a key event on Qatar’s annual cultural calendar. The support of our partners has been invaluable in allowing us to create enriching experiences for our festival-goers and we look forward to developing long-lasting relationships for our continued growth and mutual benefit. As a result, the impact of Ajyal, over the years, has grown to not only contribute to youth, social and cultural developments but also actively supports the advancement of our country’s tourism sector, and Qatar’s long-term economic diversification plans.”

As Principal Partner, Occidental Petroleum will present the ‘Made in Qatar’ section, one of the most popular segments of Ajyal. The dedicated showcase curates an annual slate of films conceptualised and produced by the new generation of filmmaking talent including Qatari directors and filmmakers based in the country.

Andrew H Kershaw, President and General Manager of Occidental Petroleum of Qatar, said: “Since it began 5 years ago, the Ajyal Youth Film Festival has been encouraging and developing young artistic filmmaking talent as well as highlighting Qatar’s rich culture. We are extremely proud and honored to renew our partnership on this important and thoughtful initiative that is bringing meaningful contributions to Qatari society and showcasing them to a worldwide audience. Occidental Petroleum has partnered with Doha Film Institute and Ajyal Youth Film Festival from the beginning and are delighted to have seen it grow and flourish into one of today’s most important cultural festivals in Qatar , Congratulations Ajyal.”

The heart of Ajyal is its jury, who go far beyond the screen and form lifelong bonds with their peers from across the world. Much of that is in large part thanks to the Ajyal Jurors’ Hub, powered by Ooredoo this year. Manar Khalifa Al Muraikhi, Director of PR and Corporate Communications, Ooredoo qATAR, said: “The Ajyal Youth Film Festival has played a significant role in driving the creative scene of Qatar through its initiatives that nurture young minds and supports the development of future leaders. The Festival plays an important role in inspiring the next generation, and is an investment for our future. As the nation’s leading telecom provider, we take pride in supporting events that make a difference to the community, especially in terms of building the skills of our youth and providing them a platform to showcase their creativity.”

The fifth Ajyal Youth Film Festival will once again be hosted at Katara Cultural Village, and will consist of daily public screenings of local and international films; the popular ‘Made in Qatar’ section presented by Oxy dedicated to showcasing home-grown talent from Qatar; SONY Cinema Under the Stars; family weekend; special events and exhibitions; school screenings; and the Ajyal Competition, where hundreds of young jurors between the ages of 8 and 21 will watch and discuss shorts and features and decide on the winning films.

Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, General Manager of Katara Cultural Village, said: “We are delighted that Katara has been serving as the hub for the Ajyal Youth Film Festival since its inception. The community spirit that the event fosters is evident in the phenomenal number of visitors that we host during the six-day event. Our support to Ajyal demonstrates our commitment to promote cultural initiatives that add to the pride of our nation while nurturing the next generation of Qatari talents. The mission of the Ajyal Youth Film Festival to support the development of future global citizens, reflects our vision to promote human interaction through art and cultural exchange.”

For five years, the Doha Film Institute’s Ajyal Youth Film Festival has been one of Qatar’s main cultural events that brings together the local and international communities of film professionals and enthusiasts. Saif Al Kuwari, Director of PR and Communication at Qatar Tourism Authority, added: “The Ajyal Youth Film Festival is a great cultural asset for Qatar as it allows residents and visitors to explore the country’s vibrant contemporary art scene alongside its rich cultural heritage. We are delighted to support an event which plays a key role in enriching Qatar’s calendar of events, while shining a spotlight on the country’s main tourism landmarks.”