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• 4-day event is presented as part of Discover America Festival 2017 by the U.S. Embassy in Qatar
• Four feature films will be presented over four evenings at MIA Park and concludes with Alive Inside, a feature documentary exploring the relationship between music and memory in combatting Alzheimer’s

Doha, Qatar; November 1, 2017: The Doha Film Institute, in partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Qatar, presents a special programme for its ‘Cinema Under the Stars’ series, as part of Discover America Festival 2017. The Discover America Festival will showcase the United States’ contributions to commerce, food, art, culture, and education.

The initiative is an opportunity for the community to come together when the sun sets and the stars come out, to enjoy a line-up of films to entertain the whole family in an alternative setting to traditional cinema, while enjoying the cooler outdoor evenings. Four consecutive open air screenings will take place from Wednesday, November 1 to Saturday, November 4 at the Museum of Islamic Art at 7PM. Screenings are free and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

This series includes Turbo (November 1), Big Dream (November 2), Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (November 3) and Alive Inside (November 4):

Turbo (2013), directed by David Soren, is an American 3D computer-animated comedy sports film featuring Ryan Reynolds. It is a tale of a speed-obsessed snail with an unusual dream: to become the world’s greatest racer. This odd snail gets a chance to leave his slow-paced life behind when a freak accident gives him the power of superspeed. Newly revved-up, Turbo embarks on an extraordinary quest to enter and win the Indianapolis 500.

Big Dream (2014), directed by Kelly Cox, follows the intimate stories of seven young women who are breaking barriers and overcoming personal challenges to follow their passion in science, math, computing and engineering. From small town Iowa to the bustling streets of the Middle East, Big Dream immerses viewers in a world designed by and for the inspiring next generation of girls.

Directed by Kelly Asbury and Lorna Cook, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron(2002) follows the adventures of a wild and rambunctious mustang stallion as he journeys through the untamed American frontier. Encountering man for the first time, Spirit defies being broken, even as he develops a remarkable friendship with a young Lakota brave.

Concluding the ‘Cinema Under the Stars’ initiative is the US documentary Alive Inside (2014) by Michael Rossato-Bennett. It shadows social worker Dan Cohen, founder of the nonprofit organization Music & Memory, as he fights to demonstrate music’s ability to combat memory loss and restore a deep sense of self to those suffering from it. Rossato-Bennett visits family members affected by Alzheimer’s who have witnessed the miraculous effects of personalised music on their loved ones, and offers illuminating interviews with experts including renowned neurologist and best-selling author Oliver Sacks (Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain) and musician Bobby McFerrin (Don’t Worry, Be Happy).

The ‘Cinema under the Stars’ initiative, part of the DFI Cinema series, is designed to strengthen film appreciation in Doha by introducing evenings of great cinema in a family friendly open air environment. For more details, log on to: www.dohafilminstitute.com. For more information on the Discover America Festival please visit https://qa.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/discover-america-festival-2017/. Let everyone know how you’re enjoying the festival by using #DAinQatar and #USAinQatar in your tweets and Instagram posts.