(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Doha: The Doha Film Institute (DFI) is set to deliver a safe and exciting eighth edition of its flagship Ajyal Film Festival with several options and opportunities for jurors to enjoy experiencing this year's jury programme.
Speaking at a Zoom meeting with local media yesterday, Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Festival Director and Chief Executive Officer of DFI, stressed they have been working closely with concerned government entities to ensure a safe festival for the young jurors.
'We're working with the Ministry of Education. We're talking to students in schools and universities to let them know that we are really working hard to deliver a safe festival, taking into consideration all necessary precautions. We're working very closely with the Ministry of Public Health and all government entities, said Alremaihi.
This year's festival jury programme will be in a hybrid format combining online and onsite offerings.
'Everything will be available online for anyone who registers as a juror; they can watch films, attend Q & A's and Ajyal Talks. Jurors whose ages are 18 and above can come and watch all their films in Katara while those below 18 years old can watch one film at Katara one time, she explained.
Safety precautions will be applied during the screenings including checking the Ehteraz app and body temperature and ensuring social distancing. The jurors will be watching the films with their peers in smaller groups, she stressed.
'I want to give the parents peace of mind. I want to assure them that when they register their kids, they have options. It can be online or if they want they can bring them to the festival to watch a film. We have every option available for everyone who cannot come but there are opportunities for people to come and enjoy the festival on the ground, she said.
One of the online features of this year's festival is the virtual juror's hub, an online space where the jury members can meet their peers and their mentors and talk, she added.
Unlike the previous editions of the festival, this year's jury programme starts earlier and is longer, from the previous seven days to 11 days. 'We spread the programme over 11 days so they have less time in front of the screen because they also have to be in front of the screen for school; we have taken all these things into consideration, she said, adding the programme will be easier and smoother.
On expanding the age range covered by the jury programme from 8 to 21 to 8 to 25, she said there are many jurors who had finished the programme when they passed the age of 21 and still wanted to go through the Ajyal jury experience and they wanted to be given a chance.
This year's film festival will run from November 18 to 23 and the Jury Competition programme will be from November 11 to 23.
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