The Doha Film Institute (DFI) has announced to host a series of screenwriting workshops including “Goul Gassah – Introduction to Scriptwriting Workshop” and the third round of its pioneering Hezayah Screenwriting Programme. Rolled out by the Gulf Development Unit (GDU) of DFI’s Film Financing arm, the initiatives are aimed at enabling local screenwriters to develop strong stories and high-quality scripts that potentially translate to powerful film productions in the future. It is also in line with DFI’s commitment to identify, nurture, and promote talents that will further enrich Qatar’s cultural scene and reinforce its position as the cultural and artistic hub of the region. An open-to-all workshop, “Goul Gassah – Introduction to Scriptwriting Workshop” will cover the fundamentals of developing powerful scripts, under the guidance of international script consultant Christian Routh. The third round of Hezayah workshops will fine-tune the twelve scripts that have been developed since July in the final session under the direction of Christian Routh and Lebanese writer-director Ziad Doueiri. The best scripts, identified from the workshop to be held from November 8 to 11, will be developed as short and feature film productions in 2013. “We place great emphasis on developing powerful stories and scripts, which are critical to driving world-class film productions in Qatar. The workshop, led by international professionals, provides aspiring filmmakers the opportunity to learn the core techniques of developing powerful scripts that can be realised into finished projects with a global appeal,” said Mahdi Ali Ali, Manager of GDU. DFI’s Gulf Development Unit aims to host an array of workshops in 2013 under the guidance of world-class mentors and industry professionals, further spearheading the growth of Qatar’s film industry. “Goul Gassah – Introduction to Scriptwriting Workshop” and Hezayah complement the Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF) which will be held for eight days from November 17 to 24. The fourth edition of the Festival will open with Mira Nair’s critically-acclaimed The Reluctant Fundamentalist, in addition to showcasing an internationally diverse programme in distinct themed segments. The Peninsula

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