(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Diverse films supported by Doha Film Institute (DFI) have been selected to the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, to be held from May 17 to 28, underlining the continued presence of projects nurtured by the Institute at the premier film event.
All films are recipients of the Institute's Grants Programme with three of them further fine-tuned under the eyes of Master filmmakers at the Institute's Qumra industry event.
Fatma al-Remaihi, chief executive officer of DFI, said: 'We are delighted that the works of talented young filmmakers from the region and beyond have once again made the cut to the premier film event, vying with films from around the world.
Marking their World Premieres in the Un Certain Regard segment are Beauty and the Dogs (Tunisia, France, Sweden, Norway, Lebanon, Switzerland, Germany, Qatar/2017) directed by Kaouther Ben Hania; and Until the Birds Return (Algeria, France, Germany, Qatar/2017) by Karim Moussaoui.
Recipient of Fall Grants 2016 and a Picture Lock screening at Qumra 2017, Beauty and the Dogs is the story of Mariam, who just wanted to enjoy her night out, but something terrible happens, forcing her to seek justice from the perpetrator of the crime committed against her.
Until the Birds Return, a Fall Grant 2015 recipient and a Qumra 2016 development project, is the story of three characters who are a product of the conflicted Algeria of the 2000s, each now facing a difficult life choice, with their ideals shattered and their moral strength drained.
Plot 35 (France, Qatar/ 2017) by Eric Caravaca world premieres in the Special Screening segment at Cannes. A Fall Grant 2016 recipient, the film takes viewers into the heart of a fascinating human quest.
Screenings in the parallel section of Cannes Ecrans Juniors include Wallay (Burkina Faso, France, Qatar/2017) by Berni Goldblat and Ali, The Goat and Ibrahim (Egypt, UAE, France, Qatar/ 2016) by Sherif El Bendary.
A Fall Grant 2016 recipient, Wallay had its World Premiere in the Generation section at the 2017 Berlinale, while Ali, the Goat and Ibrahim is a Fall Grant 2012 recipient and Qumra 2016 Work-in-Progress project.
Selected for screening in the Directors' Fortnight is Nothingwood (France, Germany, Qatar/2017), directed by Sonia Kronlund. A Spring 2017 recipient, the feature documentary is about Salim Shaheen, the most prolific and popular actor-director-producer in Afghanistan.
In addition, four grantee projects have been selected for key initiatives at the Marche Du Film (Cannes Film Market); Spring Grant 2015 recipient Alam, The Flag (Palestine, France, Qatar/2017) by Firas Khoury and The Translator (Syria, Jordan, France, Qatar/2017) by Rana Kazkaz and Anas Khalaf screen in the Cinefondation's Atelier; The Maiden's Pond (Lebanon, Germany, Qatar) by Bassem Breche, Fall Grant 2016 recipient and Qumra 2017 project, has been selected to the La Fabrique des Cinemas du Monde, and You Will Die At Twenty by Amjad Abu Alala (Sudan, Egypt, Qatar), a Spring Grants 2016 recipient and Qumra 2017 development project, will be presented at the first edition of the Cinephilia Bound Cannes programme in partnership with the Maison Des Scenaristes.
Last year, a strong contingent of films supported by DFI had screened in key sections at Cannes, including the Official Competition, winning five major awards across different sections. In line with DFI's mandate to promote Qatar's evolving film industry to the international community, the Institute will once again present a special showcase of ‘Made in Qatar' films as part of the first-ever Market Screening and the Short Film Corner programme.
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