The Doha Film Institute in Qatar has announced that Leos Carax, Claire Denis, Atom Egoyan, Martin Hernandez and Jim Sheridan will serve as Qumra experts at the 10th edition of the prestigious talent incubator, which will take place from March 1 to 6.
They join a long list of senior professionals who have participated in the Qumra Meeting since its launch in 2014, including James Schamus, Naomi Kawasi, Asghar Farhadi, Gael Garcia Bernal and Tilda Swinton.
As part of Qumra, a select group of filmmakers and film producers from the MENA region and the world supported by the Doha Film Institute’s grant program will attend the six-day talent and project incubator meeting in Doha.
Qumra experts provide masterclasses and then provide one-on-one mentoring to participants alongside a group of other industry professionals in attendance.
French director Carax is currently working on post-production of his personal work not mewhich follows an award-winning pop-rock melodrama Annettewith other career highlights including Bad blood (1986) And Lovers on the bridge (1991).
Canadian director Egoyan will arrive in Doha from Berlin, where he will screen his latest films Seven veilsafter its world premiere in Toronto.
French director Denis takes on the role of director of Qumra for the second time after taking part in a virtual version during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021, ahead of a busy 2022 that saw her win the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival in the Film category. Both sides of the blade And the competition in Cannes with Stars at noon.
Hernandez, a supervising Mexican sound editor and sound designer, will share insights into his award-winning career that includes films such as Birdman (2014) and The return (2015), for which he won an Academy Award.
Irish playwright, screenwriter, director and producer Sheridan, who is currently working on a documentary about the 1996 murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier in Ireland, will discuss his 35-year body of work which includes My left foot (1989), In the father’s name (1993), in America (2002) and the studio’s more recent films such as the brothers (2009), and dream house (2011).
“The Qumra masters are bold and visionary filmmakers who have left an indelible mark on world cinema with their unique and innovative storytelling styles,” said Elia Suleiman, Artistic Advisor at the Doha Film Institute.
“Their filmography is characterized by their fearless exploration of the medium. Their perspectives on filmmaking will undoubtedly benefit our young filmmakers, and in turn contribute to a richer body of work by emerging talent in the region and beyond.”
During its first nine editions, Qumra played an important role in supporting films from the Middle East and North Africa region that achieved international fame.
Fatima Hassan Al Rumaihi, CEO of Qumra, said: “As the first talent incubator of its kind in the Arab world, Qumra has served as a prominent platform for emerging talent to give their projects a distinct edge through invaluable networking sessions with senior industry professionals.” From the Doha Film Institute.