Ten films supported by the Doha Film Institute (DFI) have been selected to screen at the 2021 Venice International Film Festival, from September 1 to 11, 2021. One of the largest selections of films funded by DFI to be shown at the festival, the diverse line up includes six exciting works from the Arab world including the first ever Yemeni film selected for the official shorts film competition.
Continuing to build on DFI’s track-record of showcasing Arab talent to an international audience, Shaima Al Tamimi sets history as the director of the first Yemeni film – Don’t Get Too Comfortable – selected for competition at an international film event.
Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Chief Executive Officer of DFI, said: “We are incredibly proud to showcase ten films backed by DFI at the Venice Film Festival this year, underlining our commitment to support emerging Arab talent and filmmakers from across the globe. The selection includes thought-provoking works by new voices in global cinema and established names that offer fresh perspectives on life that reflect human hopes, aspirations and challenges.
“Our funding programmes are dedicated to supporting emerging talent, captivating storytelling and unique narrative styles, and there is no doubt that these films are among the most anticipated projects to emerge this year from the region and beyond.
Their Venice debut will mark the beginning of an exciting journey for all these films, and I congratulate the teams behind them on their inclusion at this prestigious festival.”
Competing in the Festival’s Orizzonti segment are three DFI supported films: Atlantide (Italy, France, Qatar) by Italian director, Yuri Ancarani, 2020 Spring Grants recipient. Kavich Neang’s debut film and 2020 Spring Grants recipient White Building (Cambodia, France, China, Qatar) explores the life changing moments of a young man from Phnom Penh, from the demolition of his lifelong home to societal pressures.
2020 Fall Grant recipient Kiro Russo’s El Gran Movimiento (Bolivia, France, Switzerland, Qatar), set in contemporary Bolivia, the film follows Elder and his companions who arrive in La Paz after a seven-day walk and seek to be reinstated at the local mine.
The 2021 Venice Film Festival’s new sidebar programme, Orizzonti Extra features two DFI backed projects including opening film Land of Dreams (USA, Germany, Qatar) by Shirin Neshat and Shoja Azari.
Diana El Jeiroudi’s Republic of Silence (Syria, Germany, France, Qatar), a 2016 Fall Grants recipient premieres in the official out of competition segment.
Two DFI supported films have been selected for the Final Cut, a Venice Production Bridge initiative that supports projects from African and Arab countries: Under The Fig Trees (Tunisia, Switzerland, Qatar, France) by 2021 Spring Grants 2021 recipient Erige Sehiri and The Mother of All Lies (Morocco, France, Qatar) by 2019 Spring Grants recipient Asmae El Moudir. Syrian screenwriter, director and 2019 Spring Grants recipient, Ameer Fakher Eldin, competes in Gionarte Degli Autori, an independent sidebar at the Festival with The Stranger (Syria, Qatar).
SOURCE – https://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/24/08/2021/Ten-diverse-films-supported-by-DFI-selected-for-78th-Venice-Film-Festival
