#DariQatar, the crowd-sourced film initiative by Doha Film Institute and Qatar Tourism Authority that presents the opportunity for the Qatari public to narrate their stories with short videos of life in the country, will mark its world premiere on Dec. 7 at Katara Drama Theatre.

#DariQatar received an overwhelming 10,000 plus submissions from over 200 enthusiasts, representing 22 nationalities. Among the top contributors are 17 Qatari nationals, who joined others in submitting video clips of the nation, covering six broad themes: joy, adventure, family, traditions, friendship and uniquely Qatar. The final cut of #DariQatar is created form over video footage of over 250 hours.

#DariQatar, which means ‘My Home Qatar’ in Arabic, is the visual narrative of the nation presented entirely through the eyes of the people of Qatar. They were encouraged to shoot on practically any aspect of life in the country with the overwhelming response highlighted by submissions that talk of their hopes, loves, fears, dreams and everyday realities.

#DariQatar will be an inspirational work that celebrates a year in the life of Qatar, highlighting aspects of the nation including the National Day celebrations, key national events, sports, business centres including oil and gas facilities, the modern airport, education, and practically every field that documents life in Qatar. The visuals and personal stories give insights into the diversity of Qatar and serve as honest portraits of life in the nation.

Fatma Al Remaihi, Chief Executive Officer of Doha Film Institute, said: ““It gives us great pride to mark the world premiere of #DariQatar on Dec. 7. We are amazed by the overwhelming response from the community to#DariQatar. We are equally delighted with the quality of the submissions, with the participants presenting us with some captivating vignettes of everyday life. The creativity with which they have approached the subjects in bringing out everyday life from unusual angles and narratives totally surprised our production team.

“#DariQatar will be a fantastic tribute to our nation and our leadership, as it celebrates living in Qatar in a never-before manner. Indeed, the submissions show the love of the people for the nation, and we are honoured to bring this initiative to an impressive conclusion.”

Qatari director Ahmad Al-Sharif has curated the selection of clips that form the films narrative, reflecting the warmth and diversity of the country. Commenting on his involvement, Al-Sharif said, “#DariQatar is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me, and I am honoured to be able to contribute to this historical project. The diversity of the submissions allowed me to build a story-line that presents Qatar, its culture, traditions and developments in all its glory. This is a great participatory work of art that tells our story to the world, and I cannot wait for the film to screen to audiences in Qatar.”

From introducing viewers to Qatar though visual stories of its tradition and heritage to highlighting the Islamic heritage and culture, #DariQatar will take viewers through to modern Qatar, and incorporates personal stories of people who call Qatar home.

Participation in #DariQatar was simple. Open to all, community members had to submit short videos via an online of life in Qatar using any equipment – be it a tablet, phone or camera – in a horizontal/landscape format.

#DariQatar is presented by Doha Film Institute and Qatar Tourism Authority with the support of Platinum Partners: Occidental Petroleum Corporation and United Development Company, the developer of The Pearl Qatar.

Follow us on our social media channels: @ILQlive @ILQlive @ILoveQtr ILoveQatar

Mega Cervantes

Start a discussion