Behind the Lens with Amal Al Muftah
Art of Directing
In this fascinating second episode of The Ajyal Show, we delve into the world of Amal Al Muftah, a distinguished Qatari filmmaker known for her versatile storytelling approach across various film formats. Amal shares with us insights from her journey in creating the feature documentary ‘Ode to Our Land’. She highlights the challenges of filmmaking during COVID-19, the extensive research involved, and the intricate nuances of portraying real-life figures. Amal explains how working across various formats such as documentaries, shorts, features, and experimental films has broadened her creative vocabulary, allowing her to weave personal growth into universal stories that connect with audiences worldwide. She also touches on the subtle complexities of directing—from conceptualisation to final edits—and managing commercial projects, offering us a glimpse into the directorial process and how the whole should always be greater than the sum of its parts. This episode is a profound exploration of how personal experiences and professional versatility intertwine to shape a filmmaker’s authentic and resonant voice.
More About Our Guest Amal Al Muftah
Amal Al Muftah is a Qatari Filmmaker and Director. Her filmmaking career began in high school, directing short fiction films and documentaries. During her time at university, Amal directed two award-winning films, ‘Smicha’ (2015) and ‘Sh’hab’ (2018), which travelled to more than 50 festivals worldwide. Entering the art world through filmmaking, she directed a short art film for Qatar Museums’ Art Mills exhibition, ‘In Memory Of’ (2022), and a feature documentary, ‘Ode To Our Land’ (2024), for the Doha Film Institute (DFI) and the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ). Her recent work includes ‘Light the Sky’ (2022), a music video for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. After experimenting with multiple formats, Amal is currently focusing on fiction storytelling.