DOHA: The second edition of the Ajyal Youth Film Festival opens tonight with the screening of the film Speed Sisters, a documentary on the Middle East’s first all-woman motor racing team. The film’s director Amber Fares along with the cast will walk the red carpet prior to the screening which marks the world premiere of the film.
The red carpet, the opening ceremony and the film screening will be held at the Katara Opera House tonight.
Speed Sisters takes viewers inside the West Bank’s streetcar motor racing scene, following up a group of young Palestinian women. The debut feature by Lebanese-Canadian director takes an intimate look at the lives of its five subjects and what motivates them to compete as they challenge social expectations, community politics and family dynamics while facing restrictions of movement by the Israeli military occupation.
The film was developed with the support of Sundance Institute and Doha Film Institute’s (DFI) grants programme, along with international funds.
A total of 90 films from 43 countries will be screened at the six-day festival organised by the DFI. The films will be shown in five screening venues including the Katara Drama Theatre, the Katara Opera House and two cinemas in Building 12 as well as the Sony Pop-Up Cinema in Katara Esplanade.
The programme is categorized into four age groups namely Bader category for ages 18 to 21, Hilal (13 to 17), Mohaq (8 to 12) and Bariq (from age 4 up to be presented as public screening).
The jury will select a total of five best filmmaker awards, one short film each from Bader, Hilal and Mohaq categories and two feature films from Hilal and Bader categories.
Winners from the short categories will receive QR18,000 while QR55,000 will be given to winners in the feature film section.
The festival will also screen 20 films made by Doha-based Qatari and expatriate filmmakers.
There will also be a range of activities organised on the sidelines of the screenings such as the Family Weekend comprising creative and cultural activities, The Sandbox digital play space, a photo expo, In Conversation with Roger Allers and Mohammed Saeed Harib and Sony Pop-up cinemaThe Peninsula
