A unique interactive installation featuring 50 videos will be unveiled at a video expo titled ‘Harrer Harrer’ (Liberate) during this week’s Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF) 2011 at the Katara. The works were a product of a regional educational movement that saw over 140 participants across the Arab World document personal stories about liberation through one-minute films. Supported by the Doha Film Institute (DFI), in partnership with various regional institutions, the exhibition showcases short films from across the Arab World including Doha, Amman, Beirut, Tunis, Cairo, Marrakech, Khartoum and Jaffa. Each film – all fictional and themed around sociopolitical, cultural and personal liberation - was made in a single location following a week-long workshop, which saw participants pitch their ideas, hone their concepts and work various roles behind-the-camera to create introspective one-minute films. From the political to the personal, the project’s definition of ‘liberation’ was broad and the participants’ responses diverse, encompassing themes such as the Arab Spring, female emancipation and religious freedom, amongst others. The exhibition format will see festival-goers have access to mobile chairs, allowing them to move fluidly amongst the films to define their own narrative experiences. “Through ‘Harrer Harrer’ we wanted to facilitate the expression of Arab storytellers, to ensure the best we could, that their viewpoints were captured and shared in such an important part of the region’s history. It has been a tremendously inspiring process and what has resulted are some truly insightful and diverse works. Individually and collectively, the films provide a snapshot of the Arab World this year, and I think people will really appreciate the creativity that has been unlocked and enabled,” said Scandar Copti, filmmaker and Head of DFI Education. The ‘Harrer Harrer’ exhibition is just one of a number of activities being planned by DFI Education that also includes public performances and workshops, commencing October 25 and rounding out October 29, marking the culmination of several DFI-Education initiatives that have run throughout the year. On Wednesday October 26, following a private workshop on comedy structure, writing and delivery with stand-up comedians Bilal Randeree and Dean Obeidallah, three comics will be selected to perform at the Stand Up Comedy Qatar event on the Festival’s Family Day Stage. The following day will see 12 aspiring actors perform ‘Broken Silence’, a play based on learnings from three one-week improvisation acting workshops with Palestinian actor-director Hisham Suleiman. A live ‘Theatre Clown’ performance will also be held at ‘Family Day’ on October 28, marking the culmination of a series of workshops taught by world renowned acting coach Lee Delong. A number of interactive educational events are to be held throughout Family Day for children and families to experience different aspects of filmmaking. The Movie Magic corner will provide an insight into the type of technology used in films like Avatar and Harry Potter. Using a ‘green screen’ and state-of-the-art technology, attendees will be able to interact on superimposed backgrounds – ranging from battle scenes to seascapes. Kids will also be able to explore film storyboarding – the art of telling a story through pictures to plan out the different scenes of a film. Each youngster will get to plot out their own scenes and keep their storyboard as a souvenir. Basic animation will be taught using the ‘flip book’ method, with mentors on hand to show how it’s done. A special information booth will also be set up at the Festival to make sure that children and families can chat to DFI staff about the different education initiatives on offer. Private Educational events will also be held exclusively for DFI’s students throughout the festival. http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/170146-50-videos-to-be-unveiled-at-dtff-exhibition.html

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