Celebration of cinema begins Wednesday, 27 October 2010 06:15

DOHA: It was a splendid night as stars descended on Doha to grace a glittering ceremony for the official opening of the second Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF 2010) last night at the magnificent Opera House in Katara.

Luminaries of the film industry including producers, directors and actors including Hollywood celebrity Salma Hayek Pinault graced the red carpet opening, which also saw the screening of the acclaimed Outside the Law by French-Algerian director Rachid Bouchareb.

“This is my first time in Doha and I feel happy to be here. The idea of having a film festival in an Arab country like Qatar is great,” said the controversial filmmaker Bouchareb, adding he would definitely be back in Doha the next time around.

Acclaimed Hollywood filmmaker Mira Nair expressed her satisfaction not just with the festival, which is one of the highlights of the many initiatives of the newly established Doha Film Institute (DFI), but also the education work of DFI.

“I’m happy with the collaboration between DFI and Maisha Film Lab. There are not enough stories definitive of this region and with our collaboration we really have a way to tell these stories to the world,” Nair said.

Today, Nair will introduce audiences to her Maisha Film Lab in Uganda, Africa, and screen the short film that won the lab’s screenplay award

French-Algerian Bouchareb, director of two Academy Award-nominated films, on the other hand, will offer a master class, discussing his role in exploring 20th century French-Algerian history.

“I feel happy and honoured, at the same time humbled, to be the president of the jury this year. DTFF has been a great improvement than last year and providing new filmmakers a platform is the mission of the festival” said Yosra.

Yosra will be joined by four other outstanding and diverse members of the film industry who comprise the inaugural jury.

They are prolific Academy Award nominated actress, producer and director Salma Hayek Pinault, English actor, writer, and director Nick Moran, Indian director Bhavna Talwar and Bosnian screenwriter and film director of the Academy Award winning No Man’s Land, Danis Tanovic.

Stunning in her black and gold dress, Salma Hayek Pinault expressed admiration of the DTFF as a great initiative to promote Arab films and filmmakers.

“The festival is impressive and Doha is a great home for film and art. I’m privileged to participate in this festival as member of the jury,” said Salma.

Mahmoud Kaabour, director of Grandma, A Thousand Times said DTFF is of the same view saying it was no coincidence that his film would have its premiere in Doha.

“Doha Film Institute is doing an excellent initiative in investing in films and at the same time showing films from around the world. Not all festivals are doing this,” Kaabour said.

Vatche Boulghourjian, Director of the short film The Fifth Column described DTFF as a new but amazing festival since it is not only for the Arab world but for the world.

The five-day DTFF 2010 has expanded its awards to include an Arab competition which will recognise the best Arab film and best Arab director. Among the celebrities who attended the gala night were Egyptian actress Busi Shalabi, Miral’s director Julian Schnabil, Little Sister’s director Richard Bowen, Arab director Ali Mustafa, Jordanian director Amin Matalqa and Qatari filmmaker Mohammad Ali Ibrahim.

After the much-awaited red carpet event, close to two thousand film buffs watched the opening film Outside the Law — an action-thriller set against the backdrop of the Algerian struggle for independence from France after WWII. It tells the story of three Algerian brothers who lost their family home during an attack on the market town

of Setif. The Peninsula