+ A
A -
Tribune News Network
Doha
A STRONG contingent of 12 films supported by the Doha Film Institute (DFI) will take the spotlight on film talent from the Arab region and beyond, at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) to be held from September 7 to 17, 2017.
One of the largest selections of films backed by the Institute, the 12 films to be screened at TIFF, include six world premieres, five North American premieres and a Toronto premiere.
DFI's Chief Executive Officer Fatma al Remaihi said:"We have one of the most diverse showcase of films supported by the Doha Film Institute at Toronto International Film Festival this year. In addition to presenting compelling voices in filmmaking from the Arab world, the selection also includes new voices in global cinema that we support as part of our focus on nurturing the upcoming generation of talents. The 12 films present fascinating perspectives on life that reflect human hopes, aspirations and challenges. Each film is an inspiring take on the world we live in, and demonstrates how film has the power to drive social change."
The films supported by the Doha Film Institute Grants Programme that mark their world premiere at TIFF are 'The Journey' (Iraq, UK, France, Netherlands, Qatar/2017) by Mohamed Jabarah al Daradji; 'Of Sheep and Men' (Algeria, Switzerland, France, Qatar/2017) by Karim Sayad; 'The Seen and Unseen' (Indonesia, Netherlands, Australia, Qatar/2017) directed by Kamila Andini; 'The Other Side of Everything' (Serbia, France, Qatar/2017) by Mila Turajlic; 'Ava' (Iran, Canada, Qatar/2017) by Sadaf Foroughi; and 'The President's Visit' (Lebanon, USA, Qatar/2017) by Cyril Aris.
'The Journey' is a provocative political meditation about a would-be suicide bomber and a fast-talking train station attendant she takes hostage while 'Of Sheep and Men' is about 16-year-old Habib, who dreams of training his prized sheep to become a fighting champion.
'The Seen and Unseen' is about a 10-year-old girl who retreats into an evocative dream space to deal with the impending loss of her twin brother whereas 'The Other Side of Everything' is about Serbia's tumultuous political inheritance.
'Ava' is about a 16-year-old girl whose relationship with her family is challenged after her mother takes her to a gynaecologist and 'The President's Visit' is about a soap-maker, who receives word that the president intends to visit and the overzealous townsfolk scramble to create an image of themselves that is worthy of the occasion.
DFI grantees that will make their North American premiere at TIFF include 'Wajib' (Palestine, France, Germany, Colombia, Norway, the UAE, Qatar /2017), directed by Annemarie Jacir; 'Madmen's Fort' (Algeria, France, Switzerland, Germany, Greece, Qatar/2017), directed by Narimane Mari; 'Cocote' (Dominican Republic, Argentina, Germany, Qatar/2017) by Nelson Carlo de los Santos Arias; and 'Disappearance' (Iran, Qatar/2017) by Ali Asgari.
The co-financed film 'Looking for Oum Kulthum' (Germany, Austria, Italy, Lebanon, Qatar/2017) by Shirin Neshat in collaboration with Shoja Azari, marks its North American Premiere in the Contemporary World Cinema programme.
The DFI Training and Development lab project to be chosen for TIFF in the Wavelength section is 'Turtles Are Always Home' (Lebanon, Canada, Qatar/ 2016), a short experimental by Rawane Nassif, who uses the Qanat Quartier of Doha, Qatar with its faux-Venetian canals and facades as a starting point for an abstract reflection on the concepts of place, authenticity and home.
