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Doha, Qatar; November 15, 2012: Bringing diverse facets in modern filmmaking, the fourth Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF), the annual cultural celebration of Doha Film Institute (DFI) to be held from November 17 to 24, 2012, is showcasing an eclectic collection of thrilling adventures and spine-tingling horror tales, drawn from around the world.

Defying conventional thriller modes, the film’s opening film ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’ has an edge-of-seat narrative as it explores the emotional turmoil of the hero, Changez (Riz Ahmed). From his relentless pursuit of success in corporate America to the paths that lead him back to his home in Pakistan following the events of September 11, Mira Nair’s take on Mohsin Ahmed’s best-selling novel is as gripping as it can get.

The thriller/horror genre comes to full bloom in another 11 films that are screened in various segments of the festival including Made in Qatar, Arab Film Competition, Contemporary World Cinema and Special Screenings.

The Festival’s flagship ‘Made in Qatar Programme 4: Thriller Night’ will feature three films by Qataris, offering a unique outlook on what is beyond life as we know it. Noor Ahmed Yaqiub’s Crazy Calm is an emotional journey about a Qatari girl named Noor, a cancer patient. Her stark reality, which has begun to haunt her sub-consciousness, is reflected in her paintings.

Ali Al-Anssari’s I narrates the story of an obsessed person who demands perfection in every aspect of his life. When he notices that his friend has an asymmetrical face, he decides to take matters into his own hands. Mohammed Al-Ibrahim and Ahmed Al Baker’s ‘Lockdown: Red Moon Escape’ follows Saif and Rashid, two youngsters out in the desert fixing a flat tyre, when all of a sudden they encounter the unimaginable: a pack of zombies on the loose. Saif escapes, but when a military task force jails him, he finds himself surrounded by supernatural beings.

Two thrillers are competing in the Arab Film Competition, DTFF’s in-competition section. Nadir Moknèche’s ‘Goodbye Morocco’ narrates the story of Dounia, who sees an easy solution to all her problems when ancient Christian ruins are discovered beneath the construction site she oversees. A tragic accident threatens her plan, but unable to overcome her impulse, she abandons her personal scruples to remodel her life, which leads to the destruction of everything she loved. Merzak Allouache’s ‘The Repentant’ is the touching story of Rashid, a young jihadist who leaves his mountain hideout to return home in an attempt to resume a normal life.

In the Contemporary World Cinema segment are Espen Sandberg and Joachim Roenning’s ‘Kon-Tiki’, based on Norwegian ethnographer Thor Heyerdahl, who built a raft and travelled across the open seas from Peru to the Tuamotu Islands to prove his theory of emigration across the Pacific. ‘Kon-Tiki’ captures all the danger, excitement and sheer natural beauty of a true man-versus-nature.

Baltasar Kormákurdirects ‘The Deep’, which documents the story of a Gulli, the only crew member to survive the capsizing of a fishing boat in the North Atlantic waters off the coast of Iceland. It recounts Gulli’s struggle with celebrity and the lingering trauma of his misadventure. Bene Fliegauf’s ‘Just the Wind’ is another fascinating film on a series of shocking acts of racially motivated violence in Hungary.

Also in the Contemporary World Cinema showcase are Soi Cheang’s ‘Motorway’, the story of a young cop paired up with a soon-to-retire veteran on Hong Kong’s top-secret, high-speed, car-chase squad; and Thomas Vinterberg’s ‘The Hunt’, narrating the story of a young girl who falsely accuses a her primary school teacher of abuse, resulting in rumours and lies that spread like wildfire. Martin McDonagh’s ‘Seven Psychopaths’ is a wry take on Hollywood’s passion for psycho-killer movies.

With an expanded Festival format this year, DTFF 2012 will showcase over 87 films from across the globe under distinct themed sections including Arab Film Competition, Made in Qatar, Contemporary World Cinema, Special Screenings and Tribute to Algerian Cinema.

DTFF 2012 provides audiences a comprehensive and enriching cultural experience with new screening venues across Doha. Indoor and outdoor screenings will take place at Katara Cultural Village, Museum of Islamic Arts (MIA), and Souq Waqif.

Public participation will be central as the Festival is hosting an array of large community events, including Family Days, panel discussions, networking events and educational filmmaking programmes including Doha Talks and Doha Projects.