Happy New Year from the Video Consortium Doha team!
Join us on January 22 from 5.30pm to 9pm at VCUarts Qatar in Education City for the first event of the year, to celebrate an evening of films about Palestinian culture. This is a great opportunity to connect with fellow non-fiction filmmakers and enthusiasts, and people from the journalism and documentary film industry!
The Video Consortium Doha hub, in collaboration with TrueNorth Qatar and the VCUarts Qatar Palestinian Club, will present an evening featuring three short documentaries by diverse filmmakers, followed by a panel discussion and a casual networking gathering.
We’ll be screening:
'The Fight for the Keffiyeh II Made in Palestine' (8 minutes) by Mariam Dwedar
This short film tells the story of the Hirbawi textile factory in Hebron, West Bank. The factory has been producing Palestinian keffiyehs for over 70 years, symbolising Palestine’s struggle for liberation, identity, and statehood.
Mariam Dwedar is an Emmy Award-winning Egyptian-Filipina cinematographer and filmmaker from Brooklyn, New York. She has contributed to Peabody Award- and Webby Award-winning projects, filmed on field productions around the world covering a range of topics, and her clients include an array of media from independent documentaries to television comedies and news programs. Mariam has been recognized by DOCNYC, America's largest documentary festival, as one of '40 Under 40' rising stars in documentary filmmaking
‘Shahroor’ (15 minutes) by Yafa Shahroor and Mo’men Ghanim
Shahroor is a short documentary that unveils Yafa’s story, a girl whose heart beats with a love for media since childhood. Guided by her father Ezzat, a devoted journalist, she embarked on a clear path towards her dreams. Yet, in a fleeting moment, their carefully crafted plans dissolved into the mists of uncertainty. This film poignantly showcases the resilience and strength of a Palestinian family as they navigate the unpredictable tides of fate.
Yafa Shahroor is a Palestinian journalist and filmmaker, currently working at AJ+. Raised in China, Yafa co-directed the documentary Shahroor, which explores her personal journey of grief and transformation following the loss of her father. With a strong background in media, having graduated in Media, Radio, and Television, Yafa brings a unique and passionate perspective to her work, blending her cultural experiences with her expertise in storytelling.
Mo'men Ghanim is an experienced digital content and film director, and dedicated mentor, shaping the art of visual storytelling for over eight years. His artistry spans the realms of writing, directing, producing, cinematography, photography, lighting, editing, and colouring, crafting both films and social media content with a masterful touch. With a gift for leadership, Mo’men have guided production teams of up to 35 members. Mo’men has also shared his knowledge in filmmaking as a teaching assistant in two filmmaking classes at Northwestern University in Qatar and Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar.
Mo’men’s heart beats for projects that celebrate the essence of Palestinian culture and history. Through his films, photography projects and social media series, Mo’men have illuminated the rich heritage and timeless stories of the Palestinian people. Among his notable endeavours are documentaries and social media content created for prestigious international and local organisations.
‘The Gaza Man’ (28 minutes),a DigiDocs film by Tierney Bonini and Harriet Tatham
This Al Jazeera documentary follows Mohammed Hamada, a Palestinian weightlifter from Gaza, on his path to the Paris Olympics, despite the immense challenges of life in Gaza.
Tierney Bonini is a Kenyan-based journalist and documentary filmmaker who has been chasing real-life stories for nearly fifteen years. From embedding with Aboriginal communities in the Australian outback to filming with FARC guerillas in the highlands of Colombia, investigating loopholes in US gun laws and reporting on the plight of Syrian refugees, her reports and films have aired on Al Jazeera, ABC, VICE, MSNBC, ABC Australia, PBS, National Geographic and Vocativ.
Tierney's work has earned her numerous journalism awards, including the Edward R Murrow Award for journalism excellence, Webby Award, and multiple Telly Awards, amongst others.
Harriet Tatham is an Australian-born journalist, producer and photographer based in the United Kingdom. She is currently a freelance producer with Al Jazeera’s signature digital explainer series, Start Here. Harriet has worked for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation as a daily news TV, online and radio reporter, and a visual journalist She has also held the position of social media producer for Australia’s premiere long form investigative documentary team, Four Corners.
After the screening, we will have an insightful discussion panel moderated by Mays El Shobasy - Senior Documentary Producer at Al Jazeera English's Documentaries Department. The panel will be featuring some esteemed local filmmakers and journalists:
Belal Khaled: Photojournalist and calligrapher, known for integrating Arabic calligraphy into his photography and journalism, often focusing on themes of Palestinian identity and resistance.
Yafa Shahroor & Mo’men Ghanim: Creators of ‘Shahroor’.
Farah Fayed: Editor of The Gaza Man, an award-winning producer/director and senior editor with international experience, specialising in producing TV shows, news (economics and sports), and documentaries for broadcast, social media, and independent distribution.
Mohammed Hamada: Palestinian Weightlifter, and key character in ‘The Gaza Man’.
Doors open at 5:30pm
Screening and Panel Discussion: 6pm - 8pm
Networking: 8pm - 9pm
Admission is free, but tickets must be reserved through the VC platform for entry. Please note that all attendees are required to present a government-issued ID at the entrance.
Convenient parking is available on campus, with ECS North Parking near The Dome as an additional option.
We are looking forward to meeting you!
