The Doha Film Institute (DFI) has launched the Ajyal Film Club, an initiative by the young jurors of Ajyal Film Festival, to spotlight pressing global concerns and rally youth dialogue around them through the medium of film. The Ajyal Film Festival, DFI’s annual signature event, is a unique initiative that inspires creative interaction and cultural exchange among youth.
Over the past eight years, Ajyal has built a nurturing space where youth are empowered to reach beyond differences to find their creative voice. Two sessions of the Ajyal Film Club have been held to date around environmental degradation and the crisis in Palestine. Upcoming sessions will be held on July 10, August 14, September 11, and October 9 on wideranging topics that influence youth and promote positive action.
The upcoming session in July will focus on social injustice and child labour. Films that address the subjects will be screened for Ajyal Film Club members, who will discuss the movie and the underlying theme in-depth.
The Ajyal Film Club is part of the yearround youth development workshops organised by the Institute to promote film education and appreciation. Youth interested in cinema and keen to learn about global concerns can participate in the Ajyal Film Club, free of charge. Ajyal Jurors will lead the committee for each session.
Compelling films from popular streaming platforms are selected for the participants to watch, and they virtually meet up to discuss everything from plot and cinematography to broader issues such as cinema history and filmmaking techniques.
To book a place for the upcoming session, email: [email protected].
Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Chief Executive Officer of the Doha Film Institute, said: “The Ajyal Film Club underlines the organic evolution of our young Ajyal Jurors from being participants of the Ajyal Film Festival to taking a stronger and active role in discussing key subjects that affect humanity through cinema.”
“The success of the Ajyal Jury programme inspired us to explore new avenues to create year-round engagement for our young film enthusiasts. So, when the youth showed initiative for a film club, we extended our support to create a vibrant platform for them to understand the world better through the medium of film. We are proud to watch our Ajyal Jurors take this unique initiative forward, voice their valuable ideas and opinions, and assume active roles within their communities, and become proactive contributors to a more peaceful, tolerant, inclusive, and secure world.”
The Ajyal Jurors form the heart of Ajyal Film Festival and is a one-of-its-kind film jury with members aged 8 to 25, watching and critiquing films and taking part in in-depth discussions and voting for the winners of the film festival.
The experience of being an Ajyal Juror is unparalleled: an inspiring and creative hands-on experience that instills an appreciation of film, and the values of teamwork, critical thinking and leadership. Last year, the event welcomed over 400 jurors of 45 nationalities to be part of an invaluable learning and cultural experience to explore the transformative world of cinema through curated film screenings, workshops, and discussions.
The first Ajyal Film Club session held in May centred on ‘Our Earth.’ It discussed environmental concerns through three films: The Lorax, directed by Chris Renaud; Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski; and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind by Hayao Miyazaki, all streaming on Netflix.
