00:00The inaugural Doha Film Festival is officially underway.
00:03Over the next week, 97 films from 62 countries will be screened here,
00:08signalling a bold step for cinematic diversity in the region.
00:12Nearly half of the films are by female filmmakers,
00:14and 24 have been supported by the Doha Film Institute itself,
00:18underscoring its commitment to new voices.
00:21Majid Al-Ramehi is a Qatari filmmaker
00:23who also works as a film programmer with the festival.
00:26So myself, alongside the committee,
00:30we work together in terms of understanding, one,
00:34how the festival positions itself regionally,
00:37how the films that we select are both somehow reflecting a kind of moment
00:45in which the world is going through,
00:47as well as highlighting the most vibrant and urgent voices of cinema.
00:53There's also plenty of star power here,
00:55including award-winning directors Stephen Soderbergh and Jim Sheridan,
00:59as well as actor Rami Youssef.
01:01Everyone who is attracted to us believes in what we do,
01:04and they've seen the identity and the genuine belief in cinema
01:08and the importance of culture and arts in people's life
01:11and how it can be a transformative tool for the societies.
01:16And these people who come and participate in the festival,
01:18they have the same mindset.
01:20The festival opens with the voice of Hindra Job,
01:22a true story of a five-year-old Palestinian girl trapped in a car under Israeli fire.
01:27It won the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize in Venice
01:30and is now making its Middle East premiere.
01:32Adil Halim, Euronews, Doha.
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