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Tribune News Network
Doha
CONTINUING the international recognition gained by films supported by the Doha Film Institute (DFI), eight films have been selected to screen at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) to be held from September 8 to 18.
Seven grant recipients along with The Salesman will screen in key programming strands at the Festival's 41st edition.
Further, as part of the Institute's commitment to promoting filmmaking talents in Qatar and offering them platforms to strengthen their understanding of global cinema and foster international networking, the DFI will host two Qatari filmmakers Hafiz Ali Abdulla and Meriem Mesraoua at TIFF who will participate in a series of targeted workshops, networking events and industry meetings.
Fatma al Remaihi, Chief Executive Officer of the DFI, said:"The significant showcase of eight films supported by the Doha Film Institute at TIFF 2016 is a matter of great pride for us. It underlines the quality of our selection process that supports new and established voices, from the Arab world and beyond. TIFF offers filmmakers a remarkable opportunity to reach a global audience of film lovers. The selection of two films from our region that will make their world premiere at this esteemed event is a further testament to the evolution and appreciation of Arab cinema. We will continue to support stories that deserve to be told and celebrate the creative talent who are creating compelling content."
Two grant recipients mark their World Premiere at TIFF: Blessed Benefit (Jordan, the Netherlands, Germany, the UAE, Qatar/2016) by Mahmoud al Massad; and Off Frame AKA Revolution Until Victory (Palestine, France, Qatar/2016) by Mohanad Yaqubi.
In another significant first, By the Time it Gets Dark (Thailand, the Netherlands, France, Qatar/2016), directed by Anocha Suwichakornpong, has been chosen in the Wavelengths programme at TIFF, which celebrates daring, visionary and autonomous voices that expand the notions of cinema. The film had its world premiere at Locarno. Also at TIFF is another DFI Grantee, White Sun (Nepal, the Netherlands, the USA, Qatar/2016) by Deepak Rauniyar, a TIFF Talent Lab alumnus.
Closely following their success at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, where they premiered, four films supported by the DFI have made their cut at TIFF too. This includes The Salesman, written and directed by Asghar Farhadi which won top honours at Cannes including the Best Screenplay and Best Actor awards in the official competition section.
The Salesman is produced by Memento Films Production and Asghar Farhadi Production and co-produced by Arte France Cinema in association with Memento Films Distribution and the DFI.
The other films supported by the DFI, which were screened at Cannes this year and are making their North American debut include: Apprentice (Singapore, Germany, France, Hong Kong, Qatar/2016), directed by Junfeng Boo; Mimosas (Spain, Morocco, France, Qatar/2016) directed by Oliver Laxe, winner of the 2016 Nespresso Grand Prize awarded by the Jury of the Cannes Critics Week, and Divines (Morocco, France, Qatar/2016), the debut feature by Houda Benyamina that scooped the coveted Camera d'Or prize at Cannes this year along with a special mention from SACD for debut film in the Directors Fortnight section.
Additionally, five films supported by DFI are also being screened at the ongoing 73rd Venice Film Festival and include: White Sun (Nepal, the Netherlands, the USA, Qatar/2016) by Deepak Rauniyar screening in the Orizzonti section and The Last of Us (Tunisia, the UAE, Lebanon, Qatar / 2016) by Ala Eddine Slim, selected to screen in the International Critics Week segment. The other three grantee projects: Poisonous Roses (Egypt, France, Qatar / 2016) by Fawzi Saleh, One of These Days (Lebanon, Qatar/2017) by Nadim Tabet and Ghost Hunting (Palestine, France, Switzerland, Qatar/2016) by Raed Andoni have been selected to screen as work in progress at the Final Cut in Venice.
The selection at TIFF follows the impressive win by DFI supported films gaining top acclaim at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival and Sarajevo Film Festival. At Sarajevo, 15 films supported by the DFI, including several films 'Made in Qatar' by local talents were screened in August this year.
