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Doha Film Institute showcases Qatari films and talent at Cannes Film Festival this week

May 14, 2014

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Doha Film Institute showcases Qatari films and talent at
Cannes Film Festival this week

  • Qatar pavilion opens on May 14 at the Marché du Film’s Village International, alongside more than 60 international film organisations
  • Thirteen short films from Qatar to be showcased in the Cannes Short Film Corner
  • Ten filmmakers from Qatar attending Cannes to participate in a series of tailored workshops and mentoring sessions designed to support emerging talent

Doha, Qatar/Cannes May 13, 2014: Qatar will be represented at the Cannes Film Festival this week through the Doha Film Institute’s participation in the Marché du Film, Cannes Short Film Corner and Producers Workshop.

The Festival de Cannes is the preeminent international event for the film industry and runs from May 14 – 25.

For the fourth year running, Qatar is represented by a pavilion in the Village International, a section of the Marché du Film that enables countries from all over the world to raise the profiles of their national film culture.

One of more than 60 pavilions in the festival’s global village of cinema, the Qatar pavilion will host industry guests for meetings, professional exchanges and networking sessions, and showcase the work of the Doha Film Institute’s film funding and festival initiatives.

Abdulaziz Al-Khater, Chief Executive Officer, Doha Film Institute, said: “The Cannes Village International is a dynamic celebration of cultural diversity through film and an important platform for showcasing our local and regional talent to the world. We are honoured to represent Qatar in this forum, highlight our emerging talent and welcome the opportunities that will develop through our participation over the next ten days.”

Doha Film Institute will also present a showcase of films from Qatar-based filmmakers through the Cannes Short Film Corner, a section of the festival dedicated to showcasing films from more than 90 countries to thousands of accredited industry guests, festival selectors and short film industry specialists.

The ‘Made in Qatar’ selection will present 13 short films made through the Doha Film Institute’s education initiatives, in addition to independent productions by Qatari nationals and those who call Qatar home.

The Institute will also facilitate the attendance of 10 filmmakers from Qatar who are participating in the Producers Workshop, a programme led by industry experts designed to help producers achieve their goals in the international film market.

Through a series of tailored workshops, seminars and mentoring sessions, the programme will guide filmmakers through the festival and assist them in getting the most out of their participation. The Producers Workshop schedule will be complemented by a curated series of screenings, meetings and breakfasts with industry figures organised specially for the participants to further enhance their experience at the festival.