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• Participation open for young people aged 8 to 17 in two groups
• Workshop from Oct 10 to November 23 will be led by Tunisian director and actress Afef Ben Mahmoud

Doha, Qatar; October 12, 2016: Doha Film Institute is inviting young film enthusiasts in Qatar to participate in its ‘Youth Acting Workshop’, from October 10 to November 23, 2016. The workshop is open for young people aged 8 to 17 years in two groups, and will be led by Tunisian director and actress Afef Ben Mahmoud.

Fatma Al Remaihi, Chief Executive Officer of the Doha Film Institute, said: “Our young people are at the heart of everything we do at the Doha Film Institute. From hosting a dedicated film event for youth to hosting creative workshops, we are focused on nurturing their skills. With the ‘Youth Acting Workshop,’ we are opening doors for young talents to understand the nuances of acting, and learn the art of improvisation, which will help the participants not just in their creative pursuits but also to evolve as confident individuals.”

The core of the Doha Film Institute’s ‘Youth Acting Workshop’ is to teach acting through the power of improvisation that encourages students to perform in public without a predefined text or prior direction. Improvisation will help develop creativity and listening skills, as well as make the participants conscious of the body and its movements. The first half hour of the session is dedicated to body work, relaxation and breathing. The rest of the session focuses on individual and group improvisation exercises.

Under the mentorship of Afef Ben Mahmoud, the participants will be trained in two groups: 8 to 12-year-olds, and 13 to 17-year-olds. There will be two sessions every week of two-hour duration each on Monday and Wednesdays with a participation fee of QAR 1,000. The sessions for the first group will be from 3 to 5 PM and for the second group from 5 to 7 PM.

Afef Ben Mahmoud began an artistic career at the age of 12, when she joined theatre clubs and went on to win the first Best Comedian Award in Tunisia. Her television series credits include Ya Zahratan Fi Khayali, Sayd El Rim, and Maktoub, among others. She had her first big-screen role in Jilani Saâdi’s Khorma, and played the lead in Ibrahim Letaief’s Flous Academy and Nouri Bouzid’s Making Off, which won awards at several international film festivals. She has directed three short narrative films and a documentary, and is currently developing her first feature-length film, Backstage.

Those interested in participating in the Youth Acting Workshop can email youth@dohafilminstitute.com for more details. Seats are limited and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.