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Award-Winning Documentarian Weighs in on American Politics in his latest Film at DTFF

Doha, October 28, 2011: Renowned documentary filmmaker Nick Broomfield shared his thoughts on the making of his latest film, Sarah Palin: You Betcha!, which makes its MENA debut at the Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF) this week.

Broomfield is acclaimed for his portraits of people as diverse as Tupac Shakur and Margaret Thatcher. So why did he choose the former Republic presidential candidate? “Sarah Palin, like Margaret Thatcher, represents a political ideology that is quite powerful and we’re going to be dealing for some time,” he said.

“Dogmatic, fundamentalist beliefs have permeated into the Tea Party movement,” he continued. “It’s the end of an era of pragmatic politics that you expect in a democracy, where you debate ideas and the most common sense plan is adopted. That is gone. They have a package of ideas and Sarah Palin is part of it.”

People in Palin’s hometown became increasingly withdrawn the longer Broomfield and his small team stayed there—he compared the filmmaking process in Alaska to “pulling teeth from one end to the other.” However, some of Palin’s fellow Alaskans eventually cracked: “When people did eventually talk, the only reason they did is because they were worried. If she did win, they didn’t want to have stood by and done nothing.”

For more information relating to Festival box office venues, screening locations, transportation or ticket purchases please visit www.dohafilminstitute.com/filmfestival/info or email boxoffice@dohafilminstitute.com

About Doha Film Institute (DFI):

The Doha Film Institute (DFI) is an independent cultural organisation established in 2010 to incorporate Qatar’s film initiatives under one banner.

Located at Qatar’s new cultural hub, Katara, DFI’s many initiatives include film and television funding for MENA and international films, year-round education programs, film screenings, and the annual Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF).

In addition, DFI has established a number of strategic cultural partnerships with leading local and international organisations including Katara Cultural Village Foundation, Tribeca Enterprises, World Cinema Foundation, Maisha Film Labs and Giffoni Film Festival.

DFI was founded by H.E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani. Along with Her Excellency, DFI leadership comprises DFI Board Vice-Chair and Festival Board Chair, H.E. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Fahad Al-Thani; DFI Board Member and Festival Board Vice-Chair, H.E. Dr. Hassan Al-Nimah; DFI Board Member, Mr. Mansoor Ibrahim Al-Mahmoud; Festival Board Member, H.E. Sheikh Jabor Bin Yousuf Al Thani; and DFI Executive Director, Amanda Palmer.