Qatar: The 9th edition of the Doha Film Institute’s (DFI) annual talent incubator Qumra, which runs from March 10th to 15th 2023 in person and from March 19th to 21st online, has unveiled the 44 projects that will take part in the event.
The DFI’s Qumra 2023, will feature 44 films, including feature narratives, documentaries, web series, and shorts. The event will provide networking and development opportunities for the films chosen from 23 countries as part of Qumra’s objective to help filmmakers from the area and beyond succeed and get ready to show their work to audiences around the world. Talents connected to the chosen projects will participate in Qumra’s ground-breaking hybrid event, taking part in networking and mentorship opportunities both in person and online.
DFI Training Programs have had participation from 24 projects (Hezayah Scriptwriting lab, Producers Lab, Shorts Script Lab, Doc Lab with Rithy Panh, Series Lab and First Cut Lab). In total, eight feature projects, five productions, thirteen post-productions, seven Qumra Series, and eleven Qumra Shorts are under development.
There are 13 projects in Qumra 2023 by Qatar-based talent, including seven by citizens of the country. Qumra 2023 will support seven series projects by up-and-coming talent, highlighting the progression of the series.
Ms. Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Chief Executive Officer of the Doha Film Institute stated the projects being nurtured at Qumra 2023 have been selected from a diverse pool of films from across the world supported by the Institute.
“Qumra is creating a new space for independent and new voices in cinema, and we are impressed by the diversity and depth of the original themes that emerging filmmakers are exploring. Our goal is to support independent voices in cinema in their script-to-screen journey. We are honoured to have the support of the acclaimed film luminaries and industry experts who provide mentoring and guidance for the selected projects. The skills filmmakers learn at Qumra will be invaluable in their journey, not only in connecting their projects to global audiences but in gaining exceptional insights into the craft of filmmaking,” Ms. Alremaihi added.
Projects in development take part in group and one-on-one sessions with Qumra Masters and industry mentors for script consulting, legal, sales, marketing, and co-production advice, as well as individual matchmaking sessions for projects in post-production. Leading festival programmers, broadcasters, market representatives, sales agents, and distributors are invited to a series of closed rough-cut screenings of these projects.
Qumra 2023 will feature film projects from a number of nations, including Algeria, Mexico, Indonesia, and Mongolia. The talents will participate in group and individual consultation meetings with Qumra Masters and corporate mentors in the co-production, script development, legal, sales, and marketing fields. Individual matchmaking and private rough-cut screenings with top international festival programmers, broadcasters, market representatives, sales agents, and distributors will be beneficial for films in post-production, opening doors for widespread exhibition and distribution.
About Doha Film Institute
Doha Film Institute (DFI) is a nonprofit cultural organization established in 2010 by Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani to support the growth of the local film community through cultivating film appreciation, enhancing industry knowledge and contributing to the development of sustainable creative industries in Qatar. The Institute’s platforms include funding and production of regional, national and international films; skills-sharing and mentorship programs; film screenings; the Ajyal Youth Film Festival; and Qumra. With culture, community, learning and entertainment at its foundation, the Institute is committed to supporting Qatar’s 2030 vision for the development of a knowledge-based economy.
About Qumra
To participate in the Qumra, an initiative of the Doha Film Institute (DFI), directors and producers are chosen from films supported by the DFI that are in development and post-production. They will include a number of emerging filmmakers from Qatar, as well as recipients of funding from the Institute’s Grants Program. The robust program will feature industry meetings designed to assist with propelling projects to their next stages of development, including master classes, work-in-progress screenings, bespoke matchmaking sessions and tailored workshops with industry experts. This creative exchange will take place alongside a program of public screenings curated with input from the Qumra Masters.