Event will include education, screenings, panels and workshops.

The inaugural Ajyal Youth Film Festival, presented by the Doha Film Institute (DFI), has unveiled a roster of programming that will run from Nov 26-30 at the Cultural Village Katara.

The festival will host indoor and outdoor screenings, workshops, and industry events in a bid to showcase global cinema and support the region’s cinema.

The central initiative of the Ajyal Youth Film Festival will be the Doha Film Experience, a programme that aims to bring together hundreds of young jurors from around the world.

Featuring three jury components, the Doha Film Experience will comprise 32 short films and 10 documentaries and narratives, following which the young jurors will engage in workshops, and Q&A sessions with film talent. On the closing nights, the jurors will award films that they consider most outstanding.

The festival will include a tribute to anime with a showcase of six films dedicated to the Japanese art. The screenings will be complemented by community-wide activities including the Otaku Exhibition celebrating the works of local and regional artists paying tribute to the anime culture.

Headlining the film showcase is the ‘Made in Qatar’ strand, a programme of works by filmmakers based or born in Qatar.

The festival will also host a series of nine Special Screenings, with films from Brazil, Canada,  China, France, Korea, Mexico, Qatar, Spain, UK and US.

Industry programming will include masterclasses for students of all ages; workshops for children, parents, teachers, and industry professionals; and panels aimed at enhancing film education and appreciation.

On two free Family Days (Nov 29-30) there will be storytelling workshops, and performances from local youth and international talents.

DFI CEO Abdulaziz Al-Khater said he hoped the festival would “inspire film enthusiasts of all ages in Qatar and the region”.

Fatma Al Remaihi, festival director, said: “We want to bring generations together to discover, enjoy and discuss cinema. Young people at Ajyal will have a platform to express their views, learn from each other and unite in a celebration of film and creativity.”

More details at www.dohafilminstitute.com