Qatar has contributed two films for the upcoming Gulf Film Festival, Dubai.
Audiences at the festival, held under the patronage of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority chairman Sheikh Majid bin Mohamed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, will also have the opportunity to samples works from two more GCC countries, Oman and Yemen.
The films from Qatar show two different facets not only of the country, but of one man, Hafiz Ali Ali, a filmmaker and actor, organisers said.
Ali’s Scents of Shadows, part of the ‘Lights’ category covers the story of the establishment of Qatari cinema and how it has developed over the years.
The second movie, Gharanguo, follows nine-year old Dana as she listens to her grandmother’s tales of Gharanguoo night that falls on 14th of each Ramadan. Wearing colourful costumes, children visit their relatives’ homes to fill their bags with nuts and dried fruits.
The film introduces children to the tradition, and would be showcased in the ‘Children’ category.
From Oman, Raheel, by Jasim Albatashe, for the ‘In Competition’ shorts segment, explores the quest for freedom and stability in life.
Two short films from the student competition also originate from Oman: Dawood and Yasir Al Kiyumi’s Discover Your Power, which shows how every individual has unique skills that can be uncovered using one’s inner power.
Al-Motasim al-Shaqsi’s Al Qant takes a turn to the supernatural, when a group of children playing hide and seek hear strange voices coming from an abandoned house.
Yemen’s contribution is The Loser Bet, by Yemen-based, Russian-trained director Fadhel al-Olafii. The film, which will appear in the ‘Lights’ category, explores religious extremism in Yemen as a corrupting influence on young people in the country.
For more information go to www.gulffilmfest.com.
http://gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=282671&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16
Follow us on our social media channels:
@ILQlive
@ILQlive
@ILoveQtr
ILoveQatar
