Audiences got into an in-depth conversation with Michael Singh, the director of ‘Valentino’s Ghost’ during a special extended Doha Talks Q&A session after the screening. The film generated a lot of discussion after its premiere at the Venice Film Festival; DTFF was proud to host the first screening in the MENA region, allowing for the first discussions of the film within an Arab context.

A highlight of the day was a panel discussion on Emerging Cinema of Change, hosted by Northwestern University in Qatar. The discussion featured DTFF juror Haifaa Al Mansour, filmmakers Hanan Abdalla, Nadia Rais and Shannon Farhoud, and hip-hop artist Omar Offendum in conversarion about the role emerging filmmakers are playing in the nascent movement of Arab cinema that addresses youth and gender issues.

Excitement was high yesterday evening as the Arab Film Competition awards were handed out after a week of deliberations by our esteemed juries. The ceremony, hosted by Mohammed Saadon Al Kuwari, kicked off with a wonderful performance by Algerian musician Safy Boutella; with the audience in a fantastic mood, it was time to announce the awards. Here’s a rundown:

Made in Qatar

The Made in Qatar Award went to the short documentary ‘Bader’, by Sara Al-Saadi, Maaria Assami and Latifa Al-Darwish. A Special Mention went out to ‘Lyrics Revolt’ by Shannon Farhoud, Ashlene Ramadan, Melanie Fridgant and Rana Khaled Al Khatib.

Arab Short Film Competition

A Development Award went to ‘Sanctity’ by Ahd, while the Award for Best Short Film was presented to ‘The Forgotten’ by Ehab Tarabieh. The jury also awarded a Special Mention to Nadim Tabet for his ‘A Day in 1959’.

Arab Film Competition: Documentary

Best Documentary Filmmaker went to Hanan Abdalla for ‘In the Shadow of a Man’, while Best Feature Documentary was taken by ‘The Lebanese Rocket Society’, by Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige. The jury awarded a special mention to Damien Ounouri, the promising director of ‘Fidaï’.

Arab Film Competition: Narrative

Merzak Allouache receiving the Nest Narrative Film award for 'The Repentant'.

Nadir Moknèche’s ‘Goodbye Morocco’ received a Special Mention and Best Performance was snagged by Ahmed El Hafiane for his role in ‘Professor’, by Mahmoud Ben Mahmoud. Nabil Ayouch was named Best Narrative Filmmaker for ‘Horses of God’, and the final award of the evening was taken by Merzak Allouache’s ‘The Repentant’, which took the honour for Best Narrative Film.