Starting right here, right now, I’m kicking off a podcast that brings together film and fashion in a brand new way, where you'll find yourself sitting in the room with celebrities and artists, for some cozy conversations. Cultural events and world affairs decoded, from Cannes to Venice to London and across the pond, to NYC.
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Cannes' sidebars -- Critics' Week, Directors' Fortnight and ACID selections announced
Among the titles which stand out to me immediately are two beautiful projects, one selected for Critics’ Week and the other in the Fortnight line up, which participated in the recent DFI Qumra industry incubator. And I included the shorts in Critics’ Week!
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Qumra 2025 projects include an outlaw Bedouin bandit couple adventure and a Palestinian dystopian sci-fi thriller
Also included in the extensive line up of projects participating in the upcoming industry incubator organized by the Doha Film Institute is the follow up by Algerian helmers Damien Ounouri and Adila Bendimerad to their award winning epic ‘The Last Queen’, as well as Suzannah Mirghani’s highly anticipated feature debut ‘Cotton Queen’.
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Clockwise from left: Walter Salles, Anna Terrazas, Darius Khondji and Lav Diaz
Walter Salles, Lav Diaz and 'Roma' costume designer Anna Terrazas announced as Qumra Masters 2025
The list for the upcoming edition also includes César and Academy Award nominated DoP Darius Khondji, and Hong Kong filmmaker Johnnie To Kei-Fung.
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Ajyal young jurors sit during a screening of a film in their section
The Doha Ajyal Diaries: Women filmmakers sweep awards at this year's DFI Ajyal Film Festival
And, while watching films during this wondrous festival, I witnessed a second miracle in the making.
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Fatma Hassan Alremaihi and Her Excellency Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater surrounded by some of the Ajyal jurors
The Doha Ajyal Diaries: Opening night with a twist and the joy of unorthodox film choices
A documentary about the students’ movement in Sudan opened this year’s DFI Ajyal film festival. And the unusual, yet super welcomed refreshing choices didn’t stop there.
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A still from ‘Sudan, Remember Us’ by Hind Meddeb, courtesy of the DFI
Ajyal 2024: Festival will kick off with 'Sudan, Remember Us' and will present a focus on Voices from Palestine
With the theme of the 2024 edition of Ajyal Film Festival presented by the Doha Film Institute announced as ‘Moments That Matter’, the event will also see the participation of Palestinian stars Hiam Abbas, Saleh and Mohammad Bakri, along with beloved Egyptian actor Khaled El Nabawy, Turkish TV star Esra Bilgic and Sudanese musician Mustafa the Poet.
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A still from ‘Aïcha’ by Mehdi Barsaoui, courtesy of The Party Film Sales
More to love from the Doha Film Institute at this year's Venice Film Fest
This year there are 12 Doha Film Institute supported films in the lineup on the Lido, plus the DFI is hosting a special afternoon and even a gala dinner celebrating their achievements in the world of cinema and art.
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A still from ‘Salted Skins’ by Nicolas Fattouh, courtesy of the DFI
The Cannes Diaries: Doha Dreaming with multiple DFI projects in the Cannes Official line up & Spring 2024 upcoming grants
It’s all in a week’s work for the Doha Film Institute, the greatest cinematic organization in the MENA region.
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A still from ‘The Girl with the Needle’, courtesy of the Festival de Cannes
The Cannes Diaries: Magical interviews, chance meetings and beautiful films
There is a trick to this festival. If you stand still long enough in Cannes — something a bit difficult to do on a weekend as crowds are bustling all around you — you’ll run into everyone who is anyone in the film universe.
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Poster by Takeshi Kitano, titled, appropriately by the Japanese actor, writer, comedian, painter and director “Takeshi”
Cannes' Quinzaine and Semaine announce line ups
And there are some must-watch films in there which cannot be missed.
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The Qumra class of 2024, captured in the courtyard of the Museum of Islamic Art
The Qumra Diaries: the good, the bad and the overcrowded
And no, I’m not talking about the bustling Souq Waqif on the eve of Ramadan!
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The Qumra Diaries, on inspiration: rediscovering the soundtrack of 'Annette' in Doha
The power of music is undeniable. And no one harnesses it better than French filmmaker Leos Carax, one of the Qumra Masters at this year’s DFI industry event.
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Fatma Hassan Alremaihi at Qumra 2024, courtesy of the DFI
The Qumra Diaries: I've landed in a place of inspiration
It is always great to be in Doha for their annual industry meetings, yet this time it feels extra crucial and important — as cinema is what I turn to in order to heal and help understand the world around me.
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A still from ‘The land was well past its zenith’ by Rita Mahfouz
"We have to set our minds on how to create pockets of hope": Elia Suleiman on holding DFI's Qumra in these challenging times
Plus actress and producer Toni Colette, is confirmed as the sixth 2024 Master for the upcoming tenth anniversary edition of the industry incubator and the participating projects are announced.
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Jim Sheridan, Leos Carax, Claire Denis and more at Qumra for this year's DFI industry meet up
Plus Atom Egoyan fresh from the Berlinale and Academy Award nominated sound designer Martín Hernández, all to give Masterclasses while in Qatar.
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Mariëtte Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian announcing this year’s Competition & Encounters line up on Monday
All the latest Berlinale titles added to Competition and Encounters
While many of us may be concentrating on the awards announcements, the Berlin Film Festival reminds us where it all starts from, and why these worldwide events are so important. Dare I say, more than the awards…
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A still from ‘Disco Afrika: A Malagasy Story’, courtesy of the filmmaker
Doha Film Institute Awards announces new grant recipients -- 44 diverse projects from 32 countries
The highly anticipated announcement confirms the DFI’s commitment as the region’s longest-serving film development initiative, as the Institute has supported more than 800 films from 74 countries to date.
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A still from ‘Mornings in Jenin’, a series project participating in this year’s Qumra event
The Doha Film Institute's Qumra 2021 goes global with its virtual edition
For film insiders the Qumra event — held once a year in Doha, Qatar and bringing together industry experts and filmmakers from all over the world — was always a highly anticipated time to put on our calendars. But in the age of pandemic, where we need all the inspiration we can get to simply continue onward, Qumra has become a lifeline.
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Katara Opera House on the opening night of Ajyal Film Festival in Doha, Qatar
Doha's Ajyal Film Festival Opening Night: We may be socially distanced but our cinematic hearts beat as one!
This year, the Doha Film Institute has managed to put together a hybrid online and in person (for Qatari residents only) version of its annual Ajyal Film Festival dedicated to young audience and there was even a red carpet last night and an opening ceremony. I’m sharing the video of the latter below.
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