Training & Development
Latest news from our training programmes.
Masterclass with Alix Madigan
As a producer, Alix Madigan has found that most people still do not know what exactly it is that producers do. Walking through the process, using ‘Laggies’ and ‘Winter’s Bone’ as case studies, Madigan will walk you through every stage of a film’s journey, from inception to showing it to the big screen.
Short Scriptwriting Lab
Working in partnership with TorinoFilmLab, the Doha Film Institute’s Short Scriptwriting Lab is designed to assist new and emerging screenwriters and writer-directors to develop and write a screenplay from an original idea with the support of international mentors.
Professional Hezayah Lab
DFI announces its first Professional Hezayah Lab. Tailored for established Qatari writers, playwrights, novelists and poets, the four-day lab provides instruction, training and feedback for those who would like develop the specific skills required to write for cinema…Read More
Doha Documentary Lab
An intensive lab designed to sharpen skills in documentary technique and theory in a realistic, high-pressure environment…Read More
The Sci-Fi Saviour
We asked one of the graduates of the last Tahaddi to tell us about her most inspiring film personality. Here’s what A.J. Al-Thani had to say.
Tahaddi: 7-day Filmmaking Challenge
With the third Tahaddi: 7-day Filmmaking Challenge workshop starting soon, I thought I would share some anecdotes about the workshops that took place in March and April. Both were a huge success and, so far, the programme has produced 12 original short films, all made by first-time filmmakers who live in Qatar.
Akkas: Cinematography Workshop
2013 is the year that Doha Film Institute takes its education and training initiatives to the next level, with a packed schedule of workshops, labs and film productions coming up.
Between 27th January – 3rd February, we held our first Cinematography workshop of the year. Taking place over 8 intensive days in Katara Cultural Village, DFI’s resident Cinematographer Thomas Hines and myself (I worked as a Lighting Cameraman and Director for 10 years in the UK) introduced 18 filmmaking students to the fundamental techniques of Lighting and Camerawork. 191 people applied for this workshop when we advertised it in November 2012, so selecting the most enthusiastic participants was a real challenge. Ultimately we picked those people whose genuine interest and passion for Cinema shone through in their applications.
Filmmaking 101: Inside DFI’s Year-round Workshops
Doha Film Institute’s Gulf Film Development (GFD) team has kicked off what’s set to be an exciting year with a slew of inspiring activities. A host of unique workshops for aspiring filmmakers looking to enhance their skills is at the forefront of DFI’s cinematic agenda. This new slate of workshops will take place throughout 2013, exploring every aspect of the creative and technical process of filmmaking, encouraging participants to hone their skills, help build Qatar’s fast-growing film industry, and enhance the regional film community.
Lights, camera, interns!
From getting people drinks and looking after actors, to helping out with camera cranes and assisting producers, working on a film-set requires energy, hard work, patience and enthusiasm.
DFI’s Gulf Development Unit (GDU) invited four interns to the Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF) trailer shoot last weekend to learn what the industry has to offer and what it takes to be a part of a film community.
Hezayah: The story so far
From rewriting a story to changing the plot’s direction, finalising a script to be proud of is a drama-filled journey itself.
The group attending Doha Film Institute’s Hezayah workshop, a scriptwriting course led by filmmaker Ziad Doueri and script analyst Christian Routh, met for the second time to work on their projects. Hosted by the Gulf Development Unit, the mentors met their students in July to first put pen to paper, and will work together again in November.
5 Steps to make a Short Film
Around 50 aspiring filmmakers have completed Films Tawash – a four day workshop on how to produce a short film.
Hosted by Doha Film Institute’s Gulf Development Unit and led by Emirati director Abdallah Hassan Ahmed, the students analysed four of his short films from script to screen: “Tinback”, “Soora Naqesa”, “Sabeel” and “Asghar Min Alsama’a”.
‘Films Tawash’ Workshop
Doha Film Institute (DFI) invites aspiring filmmakers to apply to ‘Films Tawash’, a four-day workshop on how to produce a short film.
From 1 – 4 September, Emirati filmmaker Abdullah Hassan Ahmed will share his skills and knowledge using a different one of his short films each day to learn from. Even if you are only able to attend one of the days, you are still welcome to apply.
Sticking to the Script!
From 5 – 8 July a group of Qatar’s aspiring screen-writers, armed with draft versions of their scripts, attended the ‘Hezayah Workshop’.
Mentors Ziad Doueiri (West Beirut) and script analyst Christian Routh lavished their advice for over ten hours a day. With a copious coffee supply, they brainstormed, gave ideas and, most importantly, instilled them with confidence to finish their scripts by 17 November — the opening day of this year’s Doha Tribeca Film Festival.