Doha Tribeca Film Festival Ramps Up
The Doha Tribeca Film Festival is approaching quickly. There have been some mixed reviews (and I use the word review generously as the festival hasn't started...) about the festival itself. The Peninsula today published a piece today suggesting that Qatari's weren't interested in the event. There is an interesting quote from psychologist who says that
“People (in the Qatari community) are so busy with their day-to-day problems that they hardly have time to pay attention to such events,”
While I'd be interested in hearing more about these day-to-day problems...especially given that Qatar is about the richest place on the planet. Naturally, the article then goes on to quote an anonymous critic who asks whether there are Qatari's working at the festival but does not answer the question. Which of course would suggest that perhaps some people are not too busy too care about such events...
While this video highlighting Qatari involvement in the festival is probably not a response to the Peninsula piece, perhaps DTFF should just tell everyone who the singer is - it may just keep local critics at bay!
The Festival has been getting some pretty good international press though. Variety published a great write up, titled "Doha Tribeca taps film gold" and says
It's been three years since the Doha Tribeca Film Festival launched and while it may be the youngest of the emerging fests in the Middle East, it's certainly ramping up activity at a startling pace.
The five-day fest, which begins Oct. 25, came out of a deal with Tribeca co-founders Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff and is the brainchild of Sheikha Mayassa Bint Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, daughter of the emir of Qatar and chair of the country's Museums Authority Board of Trustees.
And while the fest attracts industryites from all corners of the globe, including De Niro, Salma Hayek, Kevin Spacey, Rachid Bouchareb, Freida Pinto and Julian Schnabel, its regional mandate is to educate and build a Qatari film community and biz.
What films are you planning on watching?
I wonder Genesis if that isn't because the Abu Dhabi Film Festival seems to have got the monopoly on the Gulf Cinema.
Heavens, there was even a few Qatari film makers presenting films in Abu Dhabi, but they have been totally ignored here in Qatar.
Makes you wonder....
Personally I think DFI is just an opportunity to have some parties and pat one another on the back. The actual film making component is non existent.
And if DFI thinks it is fostering a culture of film appreciation amongst Qataris, it is pretty obvious that after year 3 they are still failing miserably with this.
I saw Senna last night and there were three Qataris in the audience. Three. In a country that is supposedly car-mad. You can't blame the organisers. If people would rather go and see the latest Transformers Dirge than the sort of quality films that are on at the Film Festival, then what can you do? Their loss. Personally I'm really enjoying the Film Festival so far.
UKEngQatar - Fully air-conditioned as far as I'm aware. Apart from the outdoor venues obviously ;)
While I appreciate DFI hard work in bringing the film industry to Qatar , the people who were interviewed in the article knows what they are talking about & and are aware of the money being squandered over "Lebanese" film industry whether in DTFF or this year Cannes film festival !
Out of the large posters across town , how many Qatari actor or actress is there? I'll tell you, none. Not even a single khaliji .
While there was hardly any Qatari film industry in the past , but Qatari TV actors are involved & active in the industry since the early 70's. How did DFI interact with them , they crammed them all in few tables at the W & throw them a dinner gala!
The resentment is not over the festival itself or the international film selection , but this overwhelming & exaggerated celebration of lebanese films!!! While it's not a secret that both Egyptian & north African films that attracts both audiences & critics from across the Arab world
Amanda Palmer have done a great job & have supported many young Qataris and involved them in the industry. Her effort shouldn't go to waste, she should be careful of those who wants to benefit most through cronyism & nepotism
......
Maybe because they cannot talk on their phones whilst the films are playing and that is putting them off?
I guess DTFF is not air conditioned?
True, true. But you do wonder - Qataris make up the bulk of the cinema audience when it's your typical American rubbish. They will see practically anything. So how hard can it be to get a Qatari to come to a film festival, with films in their own language and set in their own region??
Fubar the Tennis is been going on for year and I don't see many Qataris there or at Lusail for the Motor GP and the list just goes on.
I saw the video and it made me stop and wonder...
Why would Qataris get excited that a Qatari singer, who lives in Doha, and regularly performs in Doha, will be at the Tribeca Festival? Forgive me, but why is that exciting?
Or is it that Qataris will be more excited that their big international film festival will feature someone from down the street?
This is now festival number 3 for Tribeca, and if they still haven't managed to get Qataris involved and excited, they really need to take a good look at who is running the festival and work out what they are doing wrong.
No problem.
Cheers mate.. Will try and pop in there later on Today to see what is left!
UKEngQatar - I got mine from the Film Institute in Katara. It's just behind Saffron. Not a single person in there and two assistants waiting to serve me :)
My Black Gold Premiere Ticket though is from a friend who can no longer go now. I wasn't that fussed on seeing it actually but a free ticket is a free ticket!
aren't expats who're supposed 2 b more busy with their day to day problems and job pressure, but i think expats are more into such events after all, at least for me it's like an outlet from the boring environment i've been stuck in, even volunteered with the organizers and it's like the most interesting thing I've done n doha so far :)
anyway since I couldn't find tickets for Black Gold, I'll b seeing Puss in Boots mainly and I can't remember what else to see
Have fun everybody :)
Redtreble where did yer get the tickets from?
Oh well, their loss.
I have tickets for Black Gold, Senna (which I've already seen once and rate as one of the greatest documentaries ever made), The Raid and Tormented.
May see a couple of others too if there's still tickets knocking around.
Exactly Qatari are not really bothered with these kind of events.