Qatar Named Guest Country at Marrakech Short Film Festival

Doha, The Gulf Observer: The Doha Film Institute (DFI) has announced that Qatar has been honored as the guest country at the Marrakech Short Film Festival 2024. This prestigious recognition highlights Qatar’s growing influence in global cinema and is part of the Qatar-Morocco 2024 Year of Culture initiative.

To celebrate this cultural exchange, DFI will present a special selection of 10 films under the ‘Made in Qatar’ program from September 27 to October 2, 2024. These films, created by Qatari filmmakers, showcase a diverse range of stories that reflect the nation’s rich cultural heritage, traditions, and its emerging voices in cinema.

In addition, from October 10 to 12, 2024, DFI will screen four contemporary Moroccan films by renowned and emerging Moroccan directors at Doha’s Museum of Islamic Art in a program titled ‘Mosaics from Morocco.’ Furthermore, the upcoming Ajyal Film Festival, taking place from November 16 to 23, will feature a specially curated selection of ‘Made in Morocco’ short films, further deepening the cultural dialogue between the two nations.

Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Chief Executive Officer of DFI, expressed her pride in this milestone, stating, “Film is a compelling medium that promotes cultural dialogue and shapes global understanding. Being named a guest country at the Festival is a proud moment for Qatar, and we are honored to share our stories, voices, and unique perspectives through the ‘Made in Qatar’ films. In return, we are excited to showcase Morocco’s auteurs and emerging directors in Doha, reinforcing the strong bond between our two countries.”

The ‘Made in Qatar’ showcase at the Marrakech Short Film Festival includes the opening night screening of Treasures of the Past by Rawan Al-Nassiri and Nada Bediar, a film that captures the resilience and spirit of three grandmothers. On September 28, the program will feature And Then They Burn the Sea by Majid Al Remaihi, which chronicles the director’s experience with his mother’s gradual memory loss, as well as Civilization of Equality by Ibrahim Albuainain, a stop-motion animated musical celebrating the beauty of equality.

This cultural exchange not only highlights the strong Qatar-Morocco relationship but also provides an opportunity for filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts from both countries to collaborate and share creative ideas.