2024 Ajyal Announces Winners of Ajyal Jury Competition, Made in Qatar and ‘Ajyal in Gaza’ Awards

Doha, Qatar; November 23, 2024: The 12th edition of the Ajyal Film Festival, presented by Doha Film Institute(DFI), concluded today with the winners of the Ajyal Jury Competition honoured at a special ceremony held in Katara Cultural Village, Doha.

The Ajyal Jury Competition winners were selected by over 400 young jurors, aged 8 to 25, who watched a total of 66 thought-provoking films from 42 countries in three categories – Mohaq (8 to 12 years), Hilal (13 to 17 years) and Bader (18- to 25-year-old jurors). The award ceremony was attended by jurors, their parents, filmmakers and several distinguished guests.

One of the special moments at the Festival this year was the ‘Ajyal in Gaza’ programme that screened films from Qatar for 90 young jurors in Gaza, who awarded Above the Tamarind Tree (Qatar) by Buthyna Al Mohammadi the top honour.

The Made in Qatar Awards, which honour the works of Qatari and Qatar-based filmmakers, were evaluated by a three-member jury led by acclaimed Palestinian actor Saleh Bakri and included Kenyan filmmaker Debra Aroko and Qatari filmmaker Amal Al Muftah. The winners are:

• Abdulaziz Jassim Award for Best Performance: Qatari filmmaker Ali Al-Hajri –I Lay For You To Sleep.
• Best Director Award: Paul Abraham and Abdulla Al-Hor- Alkaline
• Best Film Award: I Lay For You To Sleep – Ali Al-Hajri
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The winners of the 2024 Ajyal Jury Competition are:

Mohaq:

• Best Short Film Award: Bottles (Morocco) – Yassine El Idrissi
• Best Feature Film Award: Block 5 (Slovenia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Serbia)– Klemen Dvornik

Hilal:

• Best Short Film Award: Canary in a Coal Mine (Lebanon) – Dwan Kaoukji
• Best Feature Film Award: Searching for Amani (Kenya, USA)- Debra Aroko and Nicole Gormley

Bader:

• Best Short Film Award: Apoleon (Egypt, France) – Amir Youssef
• Best Feature Film Award: Thank You for Banking with Us (Palestine, Germany, KSA, Qatar, Egypt) – Laila Abbas

• Audience Award: Sudan, Remember Us (France, Tunisia, Qatar) – Hind Meddeb.

Addressing the audience, Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Festival Director and Chief Executive Officer of DFI, said: “While we hosted our screenings here, our hearts were with our neighbours who are undergoing great challenges. When 90 young jurors in Gaza found a way to participate in Ajyal despite everything happening around them, it showed me the true power of what we do. Their courage and determination to engage with cinema even in the darkest hours, reminds us of our purpose. It tells us why we can never stop telling stories of the wronged and the neglected.”

She added, “We have been inspired by how filmmakers respond to the changes around them. Through our support to young, emerging and independent voices, we have underlined the power of film to break barriers and form positive bonds through cultural exchange and understanding.”

With DFI approaching its 15th year in 2025 Alremaihi commented, “As we look ahead to a new chapter with Doha Film Festival, the Ajyal spirit remains. Our young jurors have always been the driving force behind the festival, and they will to be central to next year’s exciting new chapter in film and storytelling. Ajyal means generations, and what we have built together is a legacy for future generations. We told a magnificent story and we are about to tell another filled with hope and excitement, and will continue to champion the voices of underrepresented communities.”