Homegrown Film Industry Shines at Qumra 2022 with 16 Projects from Qatar

Doha, March 14 (QNA) - The remarkable growth and progress of Qatar's burgeoning film industry continues to shine, despite the ongoing global pandemic, at Qumra 2022, the Doha Film Institute's annual industry talent incubator event, to be held from March 18 to 23, 2022. In all, 16 homegrown projects with 13 from Qatari nationals, including feature films, documentaries, shorts, and a series will receive crucial support at Qumra 2022. Qatar has the strongest presence among the 45 selected projects by filmmakers from the Arab world and beyond, which will participate in the online program including roundtables, feedback sessions, and collaborative skills development on key knowledge-sharing platforms. This year's edition continues to advance Qumra's goal to strengthen filmmaking skills among emerging talent from Qatar and beyond, and provide meaningful support to help aspiring film talent to reach their full cinematic potential. Fatma Hassan Al Remaihi, Chief Executive Officer of the Doha Film Institute, said: "As our nation celebrates one of its crowning achievements with the hosting of the FIFA World Cup 2022 this year, we also want to celebrate the significant cultural achievements of our locally driven, globally accomplished film industry. As we continue to apply an integrated focus on promoting homegrown talent through film appreciation, skills development, financing support and high-level networking, we are honored to witness their incredible talent thriving. " "We are proud of the creative professionals who have seized the opportunity to build competencies that resulted in this year's exciting line-up from Qatar at Qumra 2022. The diversity of the formats of the works - from feature film to series - and the masterful storytelling talent displayed, whether it is highlighting our heritage, telling tales of people and places in Qatar or inspiring fantasies, we can't wait to share their universal stories with audiences around the world." Among the film projects by Qatari talent, two are feature narratives in development, one feature documentary each in development, post-production, and picture lock, one series in the development, five short narratives in development, two in post-production, and one in picture lock. The 2022 Qumra projects from Qatar include "Khuzama" by A.J Al-Thani (Qatar) and The Pearl by Noor Al Nasr (Qatar) in the Development- Feature Narrative category. "When The News Breaks You" by Hamad Al Hajri (Qatar) in the Development- Feature Documentary category. "Qatar Stars" by Danielle Beverly (Qatar, USA) and "Let's Play Soldiers" by Mariam Al Dhubhani (Yemen, Qatar) in the Post-Production - Documentary - Work-in-progress category. The Post-Production - Documentary - Picture Lock category include "Places of the Soul" by Hamida Issa (Qatar). The Series- Development category include "Traditional Qatari Songs" by Aisha Al Jaidah and Kholoud Al Ali (Qatar). "I Wished for Solitude" by Hamad Alfayhani (Qatar) and "Abu Fanoos" by Amira Abujbara and Horia El Hadad (Qatar), "Sandogi" by Noor Alkuwari (Qatar), "The Line" by Hitmi Al Hitmi (Qatar), and "Mercy" by Abdulaziz Mohammed (Qatar) participate in the Short Narrative - Development category. In the Short Narrative - Post-Production - Work-in-progress category: "Kinship" by Ali Al Hajri (Qatar), "A Simple Cut" by Maha Al Jefairi (Qatar), and "The Swinging Chandelier" by Karim Emara (Egypt, Qatar). "A Proposal by Nadia Al Khater (Qatar)," participate in the Short Narrative - Post-Production - Picture Lock category. The Qumra 2022 include 11 feature projects in development, 17 feature projects in post-production, 6 in Qumra Series, and 11 in Qumra Shorts. Women directors helm 20 of the total selected projects. (QNA)