Ajyal Film Festival 2023

Ajyal Youth Film Festival 2013

  • Media Literacy: The Power Of The Media - The Power Is The Media?

    Bright lights, deafening sounds, the screeching of brakes and the wailing of children, the sudden scream of delight – a body moves slowly, suddenly laughter what was that? The audience is moved. The captivating presence of the media, captured, silenced, overwhelmed. How do we interpret – is there a manual? Media literacy projects from around the world! a. ‘But how do we understand this Voice?’ Setting the Agenda – Inspiring Change – ‘Mossawa!’ (‘Equality!’) b. Film Training for Qatar: From School to Industry c. ‘…The Voices get muffled…’ – Talking Media Media experts innovate in their particular field by deconstructing the messages and finding viable solutions.

    Wed, Nov 27, 11:30 AM

  • Social Media and Games: Getting Social With Media. Let The Games Begin!

    ‘The Voices are deafening…’ Social media and gaming are the new pastime and money-spinners; but how do we distinguish between must-have and must be mad?! Can apps affirm indigenous cultures and will gaming consider social cohesion, or is it mainly about power and violence?

    Wed, Nov 27, 03:00 PM

  • Production Panel: Local is “Aseel” (“Original”)

    An eclectic mix of movement, sound, narrative – rhythmic dance; haunting moods… Capturing the ambience is vital and also inspiring… and yet there are times when nothing is required except a good script and an ingenious director. How to produce quality, captivating and inspiring media for youth? What are the local ingredients for an international flavour?

    Thu, Nov 28, 09:00 AM

  • Animation Panel: Stop The Motion, I Need To Get On!

    Creating magic by creating an illusion of movement! Telling stories by rendering images! Using artistic compositions in a myriad of complex storytelling – the animator finds a unique voice to induce the audience… How does the animations capture the youth audience now that animation is becoming more accessible and used more commonly?

    Thu, Nov 28, 10:30 AM

  • Policy, Research, Regulations: Policies and Politics

    For quality media to prosper we need to understand the essentials of nation-building, cultural identity, indigenous knowledge systems, and how the media can manipulate or enhance national identity. Policy and regulation are building blocks in maintaining social cohesion. What are the lessons learned and how to defend children and youth media?

    Thu, Nov 28, 12:00 PM

  • Film Festivals, Distribution, Marketing, Financing: Getting Your Film Out There!

    Producing quality media is only part of the solution; the other vital components are marketing and distribution. How can alternative funding models such as financing forums, crowd-funding, festivals and distribution assist in aggregating opportunities for the producer?

    Thu, Nov 28, 03:00 PM

  • Our Children First: Opening Ceremony

    Join us on a mystical media journey where narrative and song are interwoven to tell the transformative story of media for children and youth. It's the ‘call and response’ of ancient times as young people share their media habits – from storytelling around the fire to apps and games in the palm of your hand. a. ‘Once we were silent!’ b. ‘Our Children First!’ - Setting the context with a welcome and an overview c. ‘...Then we were given a Voice’ – Voices from our dynasties… with responses from our empires As we bring together specialists and veterans in the area of children, youth and media, we are mindful that the mammoth task of finding common ground, fruitful collaborations and meaningful change is not an easy one. However, most of us have been working in this sector for many years and we have become acutely aware of the pitfalls and achievements; the highs, the lows and what keeps the wheel turning... Our intention here is to recognise that we have to keep the wheels turning but we also need that extraordinary sparkle that makes this sector so enduringly exciting and memorable – after all, we are working with children and their imaginations… we are giving them hope, inspiration and above all we are allowing them to dream; offering them alternatives to what they are familiar with... So how do we capture our children’s imagination when they are so diverse, so fragile and some so wounded by war, hunger, poverty... and others who still live in the magical world of make-belief? In this opening session we travel to all the regions of the world, as our friends take us on a journey to Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, the Caribbean, North America... and the rest of our global village. d. ‘…Now we have our own Voice!’ All participants introduce themselves.

    Wed, Nov 27, 09:30 AM