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• Free outdoor cine-concert by Festival Tout-Petits Cinema from Paris featuring four films and live music today (Friday) at Katara at 6.30 PM
• Kids’ Red Carpet screening of The Good Dinosaur at 3 PM on Friday where children can come dressed as dinosaurs and be photographed
• A selection of short films under the Bariq programme designed for children under 8 years of age on Saturday at 11.45 AM

Doha, Qatar; December 3, 2015: The third Ajyal Youth Film Festival, presented by the Doha Film Institute, opens doors to its much-awaited ‘Family Weekend’ activities on Friday and Saturday with a wide range of colourful film, music, games, fitness and artistic events.

Today (Friday, Dec. 4), children can have a blast at a Kids’ Red Carpet preceding the 3D screening of The Good Dinosaur (USA; 2015) at 3 PM at Katara Opera House. Directed by Peter Sohn, this latest feature from award-winning Pixar Animation Studios transport viewers to the world where dinosaurs walk the Earth. Children can come dressed as dinosaurs and be photographed as they arrive.

They can then join the fun of Wreck-It Ralph (USA, 2012) at the same venue from 8 PM. Directed by Rich Moore, the film, voiced by the biggest names in Hollywood, is a family-friendly animated film that takes viewers on an imaginative trip to a universe like no other.

Also on Friday, Ajyal and the Forum des Images brings a special treat for young children, families and movie-lovers with the Festival Tout-Petits Cinema Cine-Concert. To be held at the Katara SONY Cinema Under the Stars at 6.30 PM, the outdoor event is suitable for all ages and includes the screenings of four delightful short films accompanied by live music by pianist Anthony Boul’ch and saxophonist Fanch Minous. Entry is free for the public.

The short films to be screened include: Hop Frog (Russia; 2012), directed by Leonid Shmelkov that welcomes viewers to the wonderland of bouncing blobs. Sublime silliness reigns in this happy-golucky tale of the creatures that inhabit an imaginative landscape of manholes and street signs.

I Want My Hat Back (USA; 2013), directed by Galen Fott, brings to life Jon Klassen’s favourite book in this humorous animated story about a bumbling bear that has lost his pointy red hat. My Mom is an Airplane (Russia; 2013), by Yulia Aronava, is a delightful celebration of the heights of imagination, while On the Wing (Russia; 2012) by Vera Myakisheva, has superb watercolours providing the backdrop for a sweet tale of a youngster’s big dreams.

The weekend fun also includes screenings of several other short films in the Bariq segment that are selected to satisfy the excitement and curiosity of children from the age of four on Saturday (Dec. 5) at 11.45 AM at the Katara Drama Theatre.

The films include Crush (South Africa; 2014) by Brent Dawes, a classic cartoon comedy that is sure to have the little ones laughing out loud; The Law of the Jungle (Belgium; 2015) by Pascale Hecquet, an endearing tale that shows why sometimes cooperation is a better solution than competition; The Mitten (Belgium, France; 2014) by Clementine Robach, a funny story about making friends; and My Panda (France; 2014) by Camille Billaud, Doriane Lopez and Domitille Mellac, which shows why animals are to be treated with kindness and respect.

The Family Weekend activities also include the SONY Gaming Experience, where visitors can try out the latest PlayStation games. Media booths by the Qatar Foundation and Northwestern University in Qatar enable visitors to try out a television newsroom and learn how to be a radio presenter. Tarsheed’s Innovation in Sustainability activities focus on learning how to save energy, while the Vodafone Falla Film Lounge lets visitors create their own interactive movie experiences.

Musical performances feature artists from around the world including the Drummers from Doha led by Patrick Dilley; and nine-year-old Norwegian sensation Angelina Jordan signing jazz standards. Qatar Music Academy’s Youth Orchestra and Symphonic Wind Orchestra will demonstrate some of their wide repertoire while local sensation Bluestone will offer their interpretation of some blues classics.

Visitors are also welcome to take part in the Ajyal Superhero Film Hunt by dressing us as their favourite superhero to hunt for Ajyal 2015 films, while anime fans can take part in the Ajyal Cosplay Competition held in partnership with AnimeQtr. The Ajyal FIFA Tournament with the Qatar FIFA Players; the Ajyal Pokémon Tournament and the Ajyal Super Smash Bros. Tournament will delight the youth and game-lovers.

Festival-goers can purchase tickets for all screenings other than ‘SONY Cinema Under the Stars’ from the Ajyal FNAC Ticket Outlet located in Lagoona Mall in addition to the Ajyal Katara Main Box Office located in Katara Building 12.

The Ajyal Katara Main Box Office will be open from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM until December 5th. The Ajyal FNAC Ticket Outlet will be open until December 5th from 2:00 PM till 9:00 PM. Tickets can also be purchased securely online through the Festival’s website at ajyalfilm.com.

Tickets are priced at QR 25 for regular screenings, and QR 40 for premium screenings (including the opening and closing night films). QM Culture Pass members get a discount of QR 5 on all regularly priced Festival screenings and events when they present their QM Culture Pass at any Festival ticket outlet. Pass holders can purchase up to two discounted tickets per screening.

For more information on the movie timings and the Ajyal Youth Film Festival, log onto www.dohafilminstitute.com.