Qatari filmmaker Abdulla Alhor at Qumra 2021.
Doha: When the pandemic nearly shut down the global film industry, emerging filmmakers in Qatar and the region received a rare opportunity to continue to move their projects forward, with the support of Qumra, the annual talent incubator for Arab cinema of the Doha Film Institute (DFI).
Their journeys navigating the last year’s new format of virtual mentorship sessions were shared at this year’s expanded edition, where participants were able to see these projects continue to come to fruition.
Presenting a diverse selection of stories, some inspired by the pandemic, many other narratives that have evolved over years, the Qumra Projects shorts and TV/web series reflect how emerging filmmakers view the medium of cinema.
Mohamed Berro, the director of A Tarmac Year (Qatar/Arabic) about two Lebanese cousins who hijack a plane demanding the release of political prisoners, said he was inspired to make the dark comedy series after “finding dark funny elements in the hijackings. What started as a research for a documentary became compiling a list of odd occurrences in these incidents and high-tension political events.” He said there is growing interest in the region in web series, which are also increasing in quality and number.
Meshaal Al Abdulla and Ibrahim Al Abdulla, two Qatari entrepreneurs, aim to expand their web series, The Rise of the Mad Cat (Qatar/English),“into many seasons to reach various media channels and penetrate the US box office as a movie.” About the 3D animation project, Ibrahim said: “We have been in the gaming and animation industry since our childhood. The project is derived from a game we are working on, which will hopefully be released soon.”
Another key project in development in the genre of TV series is independent filmmaker Ahmad Samara’s Oddity Tales from a Strange Land (Jordan, Qatar/Arabic).
The coming-of-age story that follows a girl named Aya, who leads viewers through a collection of stories that present ancient historical tales and mythologies from the Arab world, also shows the eclectic nature of filmmaking by young Arab talents.
Abdulla Al Janahi, a Qatari filmmaker, who co-directs Revenge Knows Nothing (Qatar/English/2021) with Abdulaziz Khashabi, a Qatari engineer and filmmaker, combines two stories in a creative manner showcasing the horrific effects of human injustice and selfish actions on its victims — humans and otherwise. He said the approach in making the short film was to bring a 3D Disney style: “We wanted to deliver a new experience that reminds viewers of classic Disney films,” while telling a riveting tale. “That one of the consequences of cruel actions of humans on others, the animal kingdom and the environment is revenge. While we do not promote revenge, we believe it was important to present this very sensitive topic.”
Qatari filmmaker Abdulla Alhor brings The Experiment (Qatar/Arabic), a short narrative about a bullied 30-year-old researcher who must prove that his prisoner rehabilitation experiment works, or risk being fired and losing face tohis nemesis. Having worked on other projects, mainly in the cinematography, Alhor said his first film as director is a “comedy of sorts set in an imaginary world. It presents serious social and universal concerns in a funny way. At Qumra, it was great to have the feedback of my mentors, which was a motivational boost for me, especially since it was my first project. The support they show added to my confidence.”
