Also screening is a wide selection of films that appeal to children and families that add to weekend fun On Friday (November 29), at the inaugural Ajyal Youth Film Festival, presented by the Doha Film Institute, talent from Qatar will take the spotlight with the screening of the ‘Made in Qatar’ programme at Katara Drama Theatre from 7.45 PM. Bringing an unprecedented attraction to celebrate the weekend, the festival will also screen a wide selection of films that will particularly appeal to children and families at the Katara Opera House, with screenings starting from 2 PM. The ‘Made in Qatar’ programme is one of the key attractions of the Ajyal Youth Film Festival, which showcases the filmmaking skills of homegrown talent. Films by Qatari nationals and residents will be screened through three segments. The first will feature the works of winners from the Doha Film Institute’s 48-Hour Film Challenge , the second from the 7-Day Filmmaking Challenge, both of which were open to filmmakers from across Qatar, and the third which will include the screening of Batal Wa Resalah (The Hero and the Message 2012), an Al Rayyan Productions film. Commissioned by Al Rayyan Productionsto celebrate Qatar National Day 2012, The Hero and the Message is directed by Pawel Borowski, and narrates the fantastical tale of a Qatari brother and sister who travel back in time on the prototype of a futuristic train to witness the founding events of the State of Qatar in the 19th century. The screening will be followed by a Q & A session with the Qatari talents. The third edition of the 48-Hour Family Film Challenge had brought family teams together to make a film in just two days with the added challenge of having to use a surprise prop and catchphrase in their films. Two winners, chosen through voting via social media outlets, will be announced on Friday followed by their screening. Tahaddi, the 7-Day Filmmaking Challenge is part of the Gulf Development Unit at the Doha Film Institute, which aims to teach the process of creating short films – from conceptualisation right through to execution – in just seven days. The films chosen for the Made in Qatar screenings include: My Hero by Nora Al-Subai, about a kid who devises a clever way to attract his busy father’s attention; Sweet Violence by Dana An Natsheh which depicts a young girl re-enacting her father’s domestic violence on her favourite doll; Al-Kora by Amal Al-Muftah, about a young girl who gets into trouble while trying to help her brother; and One in Five by Jawaher Al Khater, which narrates the story of a Qatari mother who tries to make a connection with her autistic son. These four films are in Arabic. Razfa, directed by Ali Al Mehdi, is without dialogues and is about a teenage boy who enrolls in a fencing school to make his father proud, while the English language film Sonder by Ali Al-Thani is a philosophical meditation of a man who enters a rundown building that used to be his college and is overwhelmed by bittersweet memories. Also to be screened is the Malayalam language film Tooth Fairy, directed by Shaikha Ali, about the desperate attempt by a boy to raise money to pay his mother’s medical bills. Film screenings during the day that will delight families and children includes The Pee-Wee 3D: The Winter that Changed My Life (Canada, 2012), directed by Eric Tessier. Screening at 8.15 PM at Katara Opera House, the film breathes new life into the formula of inspirational sports movies. Set against the backdrop of ice-hockey, it uses 3D technology to good effect during the practice and game scenes. To be screened at 2 PM, also at Katara Opera House, is Zip & Zap and the Marble Gang (Spain, 2013), directed by Oskar Santos. An action-packed adventure set in a strict rural school, the film revisits the comic-book adventures of Zip and his twin brother Zap, who have entertained legions of Spanish youngsters since 1950s. Spectacular visuals and special effects mark this playful, family-friendly film packed with mystery, suspense and laughter. Justin and the Knights of Valour (Spain, 2013) will be screened at 5 PM. Directed by Manuel Sicilia, the film is produced by Antonio Banderas and voiced by an all-star cast including Banderas, Rupert Everett and Julie Walters, among others. It narrates the story of Justin, a sweet-natured young boy, who dreams of becoming a Knight of Valour, and embarks on a voyage that is packed with adventure. Interactive Sandbox activities that provide hands-on access to the latest digital technologies in filmmaking and special events as part of the anime celebration at Ajyal Youth Film Festival will also be held through the day. Tickets are available at the Box Office of the Ajyal Youth Film Festival, in The Cultural Village Katara and City Centre. For more details on the programme, please visit: www.dohafilminstitute.com - ILQ News -

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