Today, DTFF celebrates filmmaking from the Gulf region and launches our Family Days programming.

At 2:00 PM, come by the Katara Opera House for a Doha Talks session about the current state of Khaleeji filmmaking. ‘Khaleeji Films: Overcoming Stereotypes’ will be a discussion with Gulf film-industry professionasl about the central role of storytelling in Arab culture and how regional filmmakers are exploring new ways of telling their stories.

Our Made in Qatar programming continues with Programme 4: Thriller Night, a collection of thrilling and chilling work from local filmmakers. Anchoring the session is Mohammed Al-Ibrahim and Ahmed Ibrahim Al Baker’s ‘Lockdown: Red Moon Escape’, the story of a zombie attack right next door to you. Two shorts will precede ‘Lockdown’: Noor Ahmed Yaqiub’s ‘Crazy Calm’, the emotional journey of a young woman whose illness is creeping into her art and taking over her dream world; and Ali Al-Anssari’s ‘I’, in which a psychopath who demands perfection in his surroundings suddenly realises that his friend’s face is asymmetical … and must be corrected.

Don’t forget you can still catch Made in Qatar Programme 2: Through Their Eyes on Friday, 23 November at the Al Rayyan Rooftop cinema. This package of a dozen shorts is a great way to get a sense of the depth and breadth of what’s going on in filmmaking in Qatar today – come and see what up-and-coming talents are working on and find out what the future of Qatari filmmaking holds.

It’s a great day to have a look at films from the whole of the Arab region today as well. There are three competition docs up onscreen: Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige’s brilliant ‘The Lebanese Rocket Society’ is on at 3:00 PM at the MIA Auditorium – the amazing story of the first rocket launched in the Middle East is an inspiring and surprisingly moving look at the rekindled dreams of the Arab world; Jehane Noujaim and Mona Eldaief’s intriguing ‘Rafea: Solar Mama’ shows at 6:30 PM at the DFI Cinema at MIA – come and see how a Jordanian Bedouin mother travelled to India to learn how to operate solar energy technology. Finally, Tahani Rached’s meditative ‘A Deep Long Breath’ explores the current state of hopes for socialism and humanitarianism in post-revolution Egypt at 9:15 PM at Katara 12.

On the fictional side of things, have a look at Brahim Fritah’s ‘Playground Chronicles’, a charming and moving story about one summer in a young boy’s life as he experiences young love and the joys of childhood while the heady politics of the 80s swirl around him – 3:45 PM at Katara 12; Nadir Moknèche’s taut and twisting thriller ‘Goodbye Morocco’, featuring powerful performances from Lubna Azabal and Faouzi Bensaïdi – 6:15 PM at Katara 12; and ‘Horses of God’, Nabil Ayouch’s acclaimed story about Moroccan youth as they slide toward extremist violence – 6:45 PM at Katara 12.

Then, if you’re in a singing-and-dancing kind of mood, head over to the Sony Open-Air Cinema on the esplanade at Katara at 8:00 PM to catch a free outdoor screening of Aditya Chopra’s beloved ‘The Brave Hearted Will Take the Bride’ – the film that changed the face of Bollywood.

Today also marks the first day of DTFF’s Family Days programming. Today and tomorrow, from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM, bring the whole family down to Katara to enjoy free family-friendly live entertainment, creative workshops and interactive experiences at locations throughout the Cultural Village. On Friday, 23 November from 2:00 PM until midnight, and on Saturday, 24 November from noon until 8:00 PM, offerings for kids include free film screenings, arts and crafts, rocket-making, sports, storytelling, puppetry, music, dance and kite-making.

An exciting late addition to DTFF programming is a conversation between renowned Swiss architect Jacques Herzog, and artist and filmmaker Shirin Neshat – who also sits on the jury of our documentary competition this year – during which they will discuss the role of architecture in film. A collaboration between DFI and Doha Architecture Forum (DAF) – a collaboration between Qatar Museums Authority and “Msheireb Properties”:ذ – the event explores the common ground between the creative process that applies to architecture and filmmaking and will be moderated by Dr Emin Mahir Balcıoğlu. The event takes place today at 7:30 PM at the MIA Courtyard of the Museum of Islamic Art.