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• Five trans-adapted films will provide visual and hearing-impaired audiences with tools to experience the power of film on the Ajyal stage

Doha, Qatar; 14 November 2019: Delivering the magic of cinema to all audiences, the 7th Ajyal Film Festival, the Doha Film Institute’s (DFI) annual celebration of film, will present the exciting Made in Qatar: An Inclusive Experience programme on 21 November. The five films are specially curated to reflect the theme of the festival and make film accessible, regardless of physical obstacles.

Presented in partnership with the Translation and Interpreting Institute (TII) of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Hamad bin Khalifa University, Ajyal’s inclusive programme features a hand-picked selection of five compelling works by local filmmakers.

Visually impaired audiences will experience the films through audio descriptions of visual elements while viewers who have hearing impairments will benefit from enriched subtitles in Arabic and English and sign language interpretation.

Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Festival Director and Chief Executive Officer of DFI, said: “Ajyal represents the limitless possibilities and inspiration of our youth and their potential to realise their dreams. The first programme of its kind in the region, Made in Qatar: An Inclusive Experience offers unprecedented access to the full cinema experience to film enthusiasts of different abilities, demonstrating the power of film as a tool for inclusion that transcends physical limitations. Together with our partners at TII, we are proud to present this integrative experience to the Ajyal audiences. With each year, we create a more inclusive environment that breaks down hidden barriers and provides equal access to the magical world of cinema.”

The screening will take place at 7.30 PM at 21 November at the Katara Drama Theatre and will include: Rawan Al-Nassiri and Nada Bedair’s Treasures of the Past (2017), a charming documentary about three cheerful and engaging Qatari grandmothers who have spent their lives putting food on their families’ tables through their handiwork; 1001 Days (2017) by Aisha Al-Jaidah, a modern-day take on Sheherezade that captures her significance as a legendary heroine fighting for independence, dignity and freedom; Amer: An Arabian Legend (2016) by Jassim Al-Rumaihi, the story of Amer, one of the most iconic stallions in Arabian horseracing history through conversations with people whose lives were closely entwined with Amer’s career as a champion in racing and breeding; Kholood Al-Ali’s Fragile (2019), an animated short film that follows a ceramic girl’s journey of self-discovery and reinvention as she sets off to conquer the mountains separating her from the world beyond her home; and Sh’hab (2018) by Amal Al-Muftah, about a mischievous 8-year-old girl from the old village of Al Wakra, who would do anything to spend time with her father and older brother at sea.

Tickets for the 7th Ajyal Film Festival are available for purchase at the Ajyal Main Box Office located in Katara Building 10; at the Ajyal Box Office at VOX Cinemas Doha Festival City for screenings taking place at VOX Cinemas; and from the Novo Cinemas Box Office for screenings at Novo Cinemas, the Pearl. For ticket purchase and up-to-date information on the Ajyal Film Festival, please visit:
https://www.dohafilminstitute.com/filmfestival/ticketinformation
https://www.dohafilminstitute.com/filmfestival/films

2019 Ajyal Film Festival’s Official Partners include: Katara Cultural Village – Cultural Partner; Qatar National Tourism Council – Principal Partner; Novo Cinemas, Ooredoo – Strategic Partner, St. Regis Doha – Signature Partner