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Doha, Qatar; February 1, 2017: Doha Film Institute marks its celebration of the Qatar Germany Year of Culture 2017with a compelling showcase of German films by master filmmakers. All movies will be shown at the Museum of Islamic Arts Auditorium from 2 – 10 February 2017. Organized in cooperation with the German Embassy, the Goethe-Institut Gulf Region and Qatar Museums, the German Film Week underlines the year-long cultural collaboration between Qatar and Germany to build a legacy of artistic exchange.

Fatma Al Remaihi, Chief Executive Officer of the Doha Film Institute, said: “The German Film Week is our tribute to celebrate the Qatar Germany Year of Culture. Along with our partners at Goethe-Institut Gulf Region and the German Embassy, we have curated an eclectic selection of German films for our local audiences that reflect the rich contribution made by the country to the global film industry.”

“The modern masters in German cinema have set innovative trends and approaches in filmmaking, which are showcased through our programme that includes classics from Wim Wenders and Werner Herzog along with contemporary titles with two films focused on the youth. These films are not only entertaining but also of great educational value for our emerging film talents, who can benefit from experiencing the diverse genres included in the showcase.”

Dr Elke Kaschl Mohni, Regional Director MENA of the Goethe-Institut commented, “The Goethe-Institut is pleased to cooperate intensively with Doha Film Institute in its film initiatives during Qatar Germany Year of Culture 2017. We feel that we can reach out to the Qatari and international audience in Doha especially through the medium of film which is accessible to almost everyone and gives an interesting insight into the German culture and history throughout the last 90 years.” She concludes, “With a special screening for schools of the budding director Ekrem Ergün’s film ‘Hördur’ we reach out to the young multinational generation in particular.”

The German Film Week includes a mix of classics and contemporary titles including : Run Lola Run (1998) by Tom Tykwer, Wings of Desire (Germany, France / German, English, French / 1987) by Wim Wenders, Sophie Scholl (120 min) by Marc Rothemund, The Murderers Are Among Us (1946) by Wolfgang Staudte, Fitzcarraldo(Germany, Peru / German, Italian, Spanish, English / 1982) by Werner Herzog, The Adventures of Prince Achmed (No Dialogue/ 1926) by Lotte Reininger, and the youth titles My Friend Raffi (2015) by Arend Agthe and Hördur (2015) by Ekrem Ergün.

All screenings are free to the public and tickets can be reserved online at www.dohafilminstitute.com, or in person at the DFI Box Office located at the Museum of Islamic Art.

The showcase begins with the screening of Run Lola Run, which was an international phenomenon on its release. It follows Lola who has 20 minutes to come up with a huge sum of money that her boyfriend Manni owes to a local hood. The film screens on Thursday, Feb. 2 at 8:00 PM.

My Friend Raffi is about eight-year-old Sammy who lives with his frazzled but well-meaning mother and his mean elder sister. He misses his father, who is away in Afghanistan, and so he spends a lot of time with his best friend in the whole world: Raffi, his pet golden hamster. The film screens on Friday, Feb. 3 at 3:00 PM.

On the same day at 8:30 PM, Wim Wenders’ Wings of Desire will be screened. It is a commentary on the sense of suspended life in Berlin during the Cold War and the weighty legacy of the horrors of Nazism.

Sophie Scholl is set in 1943, when several university students in Munich known as the White Rose group wrote and distributed leaflets describing Nazi atrocities, contradicting propaganda about Germany’s successes in the war. The film screens on Sunday, Feb. 5 at 8:00 PM.

One of the most significant figures of the New German Cinema, Master Director Werner Herzog is celebrated for his very personal style, and Fitzcarraldo, for which he was named Best Director at the Festival de Cannes, is among his greatest achievements. It is set in early 20th-century Peru, where the rubber trade has taken off, and Irish businessman Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald determines to make his fortune by figuring out a way to get the precious resource from an inland parcel of land to market at the ports along the Amazon River. The film screens on Monday, Feb. 6 at 8:00 PM.

The Murderers Are Among Us is a very early example of the “Trümmerfilm”, which arose in European cinema immediately after World War II. This film by Wolfgang Staudte from 1946 represents the East-German film production from the early years of the former GDR. The film screens on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 8:00 PM.

On Thursday, Feb. 9 at 8:00 PM, The Adventures of Prince Achmed will be screened. It is drawn from elements of the perennial classic ‘One Thousand and One Nights’, and is a real treat with the charms and magic of its classic story matched by the ethereal beauty of its imagery. This master piece by Lotte Reiniger is the earliest surviving animated feature-length film in existence and a simply stunning example of the possibilities animation offers.

Hördur is a gentle story about 17 year-old Aylin who develops a friendship with a beautiful Icelandic pony named Hördur, through which she gains the discipline and confidence to overcome some of her everyday troubles. The film screens on Friday, Feb. 10 at 5:00 PM. Lead actress Almila Bagriacik will be present at the screening to answer questions by the audience.

A special master class ‘Brief History of German Cinema’ by Dr. Claus Löser, will explore the beginning of film history in Germany and will build a bridge to the present on Feb 3rd at 5:30 pm. The master class will discuss the similarities and the differences of German cinema in the past and the present, and underline the industry’s special ‘German touch.’ With the help of clips from classic films, the masterclass will identify and analyse a variety of cinematographic phenomena.

Through various collaborations and year-round initiatives, Doha Film Institute brings the best in world cinema to Qatar to further strengthen appreciation of cinema and build Qatar’s film culture. Audiences in Doha are able to view films that do not necessarily reach commercial cinemas, and exposes them to new tastes and to filmmaking communities that deserve recognition for their immense talent and vitality. The Doha Film Institute’s Cinema series is an alternative for Doha audiences to access a wider range of films that push the boundaries of narrative and style.