Back to listing

• Qatar National Tourism Council joins as new Principal Partner
• Strategic Partner Ooredoo returns to present Made in Qatar programme
• Long-term Cultural Partner Katara Cultural Village to host festival from 18-23 November
• New and returning partners reinforce the importance of film in youth development

Doha, Qatar; 15 November 2019: Ajyal Film Festival returns in its seventh edition to inspire youth engagement in film and foster cinematic expression. From 18 – 23 November at Katara Cultural Village the Doha Film Institute (DFI) will present the annual cultural event highlighting partnerships with leading entities from across Qatar’s public and private sector in a joint commitment to youth empowerment through the arts.

Ajyal Film Festival 2019 welcomes the Qatar National Tourism Council as this year’s Principal Partner and Official Geekdom Partner. Novo Cinemas will return to continue successful collaborations as Strategic Partner with film screenings at the Pearl. Strategic Partner Ooredoo returns to ensure seamless event execution powered by integrated telecommunication capabilities.

Fatma Al Remaihi, Festival Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Doha Film Institute, said: “The economic impact of Ajyal Film Festival over the years has grown significantly with the event not only energising the hospitality, retail and leisure sectors, but also contributing to the growth of our country’s creative and tourism sectors in the long-term. We owe the success of Ajyal Film Festival to our strong and reliable network of partners; whose collaborative spirit continues to play a key role in one of Qatar’s most significant cultural events. We are deeply grateful to be part of a community that unites to support the creative industries and empower a new generation of storytellers.”

Prominent international guests will be hosted at The St. Regis Doha, the festival’s official hotel sponsor. The Contributing Sponsors include SONY (Official Electronics Partner), Fifty-One East, FNAC and Qatar Airways (Official Airline Partner) to deliver an unforgettable festival experience for local and international visitors.

Jawaher Alkhuzaei, Qatar National Tourism Council, said, “We are very excited to be partnering with Ajyal Film Festival and helping to reinforce Qatar’s position as a cultural hub in the region. Tourism and the arts are both means of building bridges between cultures, and so this partnership comes as part of QNTC’s commitment to support local events that celebrate Qatari culture with the world, reflecting our nation’s futuristic vision which remains deeply rooted in our heritage.”

“QNTC works to diversify tourism products and experiences, whether in culture, the arts or entertainment, and we continue to support events that shed a light on local talent while empowering them to play a part in building the Qatari experience,” she added.

Presented by Ooredoo for the second consecutive year, the ‘Made in Qatar’ programme returns to Ajyal to amplify talented young voices in the country’s growing film community. 22 narrative and documentary films by Qatari directors and Qatar-based filmmakers will compete for the prestigious Made in Qatar Awards 2019. The programme jury includes prominent figures from the international arts and culture scene, including Sudanese filmmaker Amjad Abu Alala; British actor, Kris Hitchen; and Qatari Architect and Urbanist Fatma Al Sehlawy.

Delivering a vibrant programme of film screenings, practical workshops, and red carpet events, Ajyal Film Festival 2019 centres on the importance of community and family to appeal to audiences and film enthusiasts of all ages. The events will culminate in the Ajyal Awards, whose winning titles are determined by members of the Ajyal Jury – an internationally acclaimed programme open to youth ages 8 to 21 from Qatar and beyond.

The Festival Media Sponsors include Qatar TV, beIN and Sundance TV. Official Promoters of the 2019 Festival include I Love Qatar, Qatar Living, 106.3 FM Radio Olive & 91.7 FM Radio Suno and What’s Goin on Qatar, Friends of the Festival include Aldo Coppola (Official Hair and Makeup Sponsor), Alkalive Drinking Water (Official Water Sponsor), The British Council, L’Institut français du Qatar, Qatar Gaming Communities, Giffoni Opportunity, the Translation and Interpreting Institute part of Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Qatar Foundation, Qatar Museums, VIRTUOCiTY and screenings at VOX Cinemas.