The Doha Film Institute has recruited Oscar nominee Jim Sheridan, French auteurs Claire Denis and Leos Carax, Canada’s Atom Egoyan and Oscar-nominated Mexican sound editor Martín Hernández to hold master classes and act as mentors during its upcoming Qumra Arab industry incubator.
The event, now celebrating its 10th edition, will run March 1-6 in the Qatari capital of Doha.
Qumra, which means “camera” in Arabic, blends together a creative workshop, co-production market and festival elements. It was established by the Doha Film Institute (DFI) to help foster first and second works, mostly by Arab directors, and to create curated networking opportunities between the Arab and international film communities.
Egoyan will be making the trek to Doha segueing from Berlin, where he is internationally launching drama “Seven Veils” with Amanda Seyfried in tow. Sheridan (“My Left Foot,” “In the Name of the Father”) is currently working on the docu-drama “Re-creation” about the murder of French film and TV producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier in Ireland in 1996.
“Our Qumra Masters are bold and visionary filmmakers who have left an indelible imprint in world cinema with unique and innovative approaches to storytelling,” Palestinian auteur Elia Suleiman, who is the Doha Film Institute’s artistic advisor, said in a statement.
The DFI is a major indie Arab film industry driver and has also been providing funding for Arab TV series for the past few years. Qumra 2024 will feature a selection of top notch Arab films in various stages, as well as some TV projects.
DFI-supported films screening at the Berlinale this year include “Who Do I Belong To,” a first feature by Tunisian American director Meryam Joobeur, which made the cut for competition.
