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• ‘School Stars’ Competition to Explore Films’ Limitless Possibilities to Create Content That Highlights and Inspires Creativity

Doha, Qatar; 12 April 2020: Opening new avenues to creative development and education, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education has partnered with the Doha Film Institute (DFI) to deliver the recurring ‘School Stars’ short film competition for public and private school students in Qatar.

The recurring short film competition will present a new theme in every edition and will launch on 12 April 2020. The subject of the first edition will be ‘The Bright Side’ and students are invited to submit short films that explore and express their views, observations and their experience in relation to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The open community-wide initiative invites Arabic and other language-speaking students to participate by creating 30-60 second films that capture the essence of the presented theme and reflect their opinions and ideas on the proposed topics. Submissions across the three categories: 1st – 4th Grade (Category 1), 5th – 8th Grade (Category 2), and 9th – 12th Grade (Category 3) will be evaluated by separate juries appointed by the DFI based on script quality, storyline, cinematography and originality.

Mohamad Ahmad Al Bishry, Advisor to the Minister of Education and Higher Education, said: “The competition is a continuation of the existing collaborations with the Doha Film Institute as a national organisation that shares in our commitment to explore new platforms for learning and ensure undisrupted access to quality education. The short film competition has been designed to inspire the youth and draw on the next generation’s immense potential to discover creative solutions and adapt to new challenges. We look forward to extending our partnership through this community-wide initiative which underlines our joint dedication to youth development in Qatar and is a fun challenge for the young people to explore the limitless possibilities of storytelling.”

Open to all currently enrolled public and private school students in Qatar, the ‘School Stars’ short film competition will present new themes every few weeks with online film submissions through the competition website on http://www.dohafilminstitute.com/pages/school-stars-short-film-competition in Arabic and other languages, provided there is a translation. Submitted films will be featured across the Ministry’s and DFI’s social media platforms, in addition to Qatar TV educational channels 1 and 2. Three winning films from each category will receive cash prizes in addition to complimentary access to DFI youth workshops and the exclusive opportunity to participate in the Ajyal Jury programme (age appropriate) in the upcoming edition of the Institute’s annual celebration of culture and art – the Ajyal Film Festival.

Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Chief Executive Officer of the Doha Film Institute, said: “We are truly honoured to partner with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education on this rewarding initiative. Empowering the youth of Qatar is central to DFI’s mission, and this competition is a remarkable opportunity for students of all ages to exercise and showcase their creative abilities. Challenging times call for innovative solutions, and our aim through the recurring short film competition is to add value to the learning experience and provide young minds with an alternate avenue for productive expression. We hope that through projects like this, we can inspire the next generation to think creatively and bring about a positive impact not just on Qatar but the wider world for many years to come.”

Film submissions should summarise the students’ creative interpretation of an item related to the ongoing theme. Parents can assist in filming, and in current circumstances all filming should be completed at home with family members only to ensure the health and safety of all.

As a regional hub for education and community, the Doha Film Institute aims to partner with national organisations and governmental entities to empower the next generation, promote an environment of creativity and dialogue, and make learning accessible through the power of film.

More information about the competition conditions, can be found via the following link http://www.dohafilminstitute.com/pages/school-stars-short-film-competition