DOHA: Nine films made with support from the Doha Film Institute (DFI) are screening at the 40th edition of the ongoing Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
Three of the films make their world premiere at the festival including the feature from Oscar nominated director Hany Abu-Assad, ‘The Idol’.
The Institute is also supporting three Qatari filmmakers and content producers to attend the TIFF industry programme. Bassam Al Ibrahim and Mohamed Al-Ibrahim from Innovation Films and Khalifa Al-Haroon, the founder of iLoveQatar.net and the iLoveQatar network are participating in the seven-day industry conference that brings together over 250 high caliber speakers on a range of topics.
Institute supported films in the official programme include eight recipients of DFI grants with two world premieres: Lebanese crime drama ‘Very Big Shot’ directed by Mirjean Bou Chaaya screening in the Discovery programme; and Mai Masri’s moving Palestinian drama ‘3000 Nights’ in the Contemporary World Cinema programme.
Other grantees making their North American debuts include: ‘Frenzy’ directed by Emin Alper which won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival this weekend; ‘Nasser’ directed by Jihan El-Tahri screening in the TIFF Docs programme and animated short film ‘Waves ’98’ directed by Elie Dhager, winner of the Palme d’Or for Best Short Film at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.
Three DFI grantees by first-time directors that all made their debut in Cannes are also part of the line-up. They are: Turkish coming-of-age drama, ‘Mustang’, directed by Deniz Gamze Ergüven; Palestinian drama ‘Dégradé’ directed by twin brothers Tarzan and Arab Nasser; and Ethiopian film ‘Lamb’ directed by Yared Zeleke. ‘The Idol’, directed by two-time Academy Award nominee Hany Abu-Assad (‘Paradise Now’, ‘Omar’) made its world premiere on Friday evening in the prestigious Special Presentations programme. Co-financed by the DFI, the film tells the remarkable true story of Arab Idol winner Mohammad Assaf.
DFI CEO Fatma Al Remaihi said: “We are very proud to be in Toronto to represent Qatar at this important international gathering for the film industry as TIFF celebrates the milestone of its 40th year. The Peninsula
DOHA: Nine films made with support from the Doha Film Institute (DFI) are screening at the 40th edition of the ongoing Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
Three of the films make their world premiere at the festival including the feature from Oscar nominated director Hany Abu-Assad, ‘The Idol’.
The Institute is also supporting three Qatari filmmakers and content producers to attend the TIFF industry programme. Bassam Al Ibrahim and Mohamed Al-Ibrahim from Innovation Films and Khalifa Al-Haroon, the founder of iLoveQatar.net and the iLoveQatar network are participating in the seven-day industry conference that brings together over 250 high caliber speakers on a range of topics.
Institute supported films in the official programme include eight recipients of DFI grants with two world premieres: Lebanese crime drama ‘Very Big Shot’ directed by Mirjean Bou Chaaya screening in the Discovery programme; and Mai Masri’s moving Palestinian drama ‘3000 Nights’ in the Contemporary World Cinema programme.
Other grantees making their North American debuts include: ‘Frenzy’ directed by Emin Alper which won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival this weekend; ‘Nasser’ directed by Jihan El-Tahri screening in the TIFF Docs programme and animated short film ‘Waves ’98’ directed by Elie Dhager, winner of the Palme d’Or for Best Short Film at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.
Three DFI grantees by first-time directors that all made their debut in Cannes are also part of the line-up. They are: Turkish coming-of-age drama, ‘Mustang’, directed by Deniz Gamze Ergüven; Palestinian drama ‘Dégradé’ directed by twin brothers Tarzan and Arab Nasser; and Ethiopian film ‘Lamb’ directed by Yared Zeleke. ‘The Idol’, directed by two-time Academy Award nominee Hany Abu-Assad (‘Paradise Now’, ‘Omar’) made its world premiere on Friday evening in the prestigious Special Presentations programme. Co-financed by the DFI, the film tells the remarkable true story of Arab Idol winner Mohammad Assaf.
DFI CEO Fatma Al Remaihi said: “We are very proud to be in Toronto to represent Qatar at this important international gathering for the film industry as TIFF celebrates the milestone of its 40th year. The Peninsula
