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Opening Doors

Fall Grant 2014 - Development Stage

Nora Al-Subai / Short Narrative / Qatar, Canada / 15 min / Original Language: Arabic / Interests: Based on a True Story

Synopsis

‘Opening Doors’ tells the true story of Amna Mahmoud who, from her early childhood, dreamed of teaching the Holy Qur’an to Qatari girls. A devout Muslim, she began her teaching career when still a girl, holding informal classes in her home, teaching girls to memorise the Qur’an. Later, she began a struggle to open a formal school for girls. In the face of strong opposition from some voices in the community, she persevered, until a fatwa was issued by the country’s leading Imam, declaring that education for girls and women was not prohibited by the Qur’an. The Emir of Qatar supported Mahmoud, and her school for girls became an important breakthrough in the education of women in Qatar.

Credits

Director
Nora Al Subai
Screenwriter
Annemarie Jacir
Producer
Juan Andy Hodgson
Production Company
Red Castle Films
Production Company
Red Castle Films

About the Director

Nora Al-Subai, a Qatari writer and director born and raised in France, graduated from Carnegie Mellon with a degree in Computer Science and a minor in Business Administration. Her short film, ‘My Hero’ (2013), premiered at the Ajyal Youth Film Festival, winning Best Short Film. The film was also featured at the Cannes Film Festival, Clermont-Ferrand Film Festival, Children’s Film Festival in Seattle, and Latin Arab Festival in Buenos Aires. Additionally, she wrote and directed ‘Al-Johara’ (2016), which premiered at the Ajyal Film Festival 2016, winning the Special Jury Award, and was showcased in international film festivals, including Cannes, Sarajevo Film Festival, and Florence Film Festival.

Contacts

  • Main Contact

    Martha Villagomez

    Company: 
    Red Castle Films
    Phone: 
    6047270319
    Email: 
    highdeafdoha@yahoo.ca

  • Screenwriter

    Annemarie Jacir

    Company: 
    Philistine Films
    Email: 
    annemarie@philistinefilms.com

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