EXPERT VOICES: EXCHANGE TRIP TO LOS ANGELES, CA

The Doha Film Institute (DFI) joins the Oscar buzz.

Abdullah Al-Mosallam, Deputy Director of the Ajyal Film Festival and Chief Administrative Officer at DFI (left), Fatma Alremaihi, CEO of DFI (middle), and QAI’s Executive Director Fatima Al-Dosari (right) at the City Hall of the City of Beverly Hill following a meeting with the office of Mayor John Mirisch.

The cultural exchange trip to L.A. focusing on film consisted of DFI’s CEO Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, QAI’s Executive Director, Fatima Al-Dosari, and Abdullah Al-Mosallam, the Deputy Director of the Ajyal Film Festival and Chief Administrative Officer of DFI.

The delegation’s objective aimed to highlight Qatar, a major investor in the U.S. and soon-to-be home to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, as a force in the film world via the Doha Film Institute. In addition to showcasing the nation’s role in supporting and championing films, filmmakers, and creatives from the region, the trip helped to solidify existing relationships and fostered new ones in California.

The exchange trip to L.A. presented an opportunity for QAI and DFI to act on their new partnership and join together in strengthening the voices from the region, through the power of films and storytelling, and by engaging in conversations on the importance of female empowerment and multicultural representation.

The group met with industry leaders in Los Angeles ahead of attending the 2020 Oscars, where two DFIbacked films were nominated: The Cave, a Syrian civil war film directed by Feras Fayyad was nominated in the Best Documentary Feature category, while Brotherhood, a Tunisian film by Montreal-based filmmaker Meryam Joobeur, earned a nomination under the Best Live Action Short Films category.

The activity-filled week included a meeting at City Hall with City of Beverly Hills Mayor John Mirisch’s office to discuss Qatar’s pivotal role in the state of California, a relationship that extends beyond the financial sphere into the fields of arts, sports, technology, education, and entertainment. His Excellency Khalid Al Sada, Consul General of the State of Qatar in Los Angeles, hosted a dinner at his home in honor of the DFI-funded films, joined by the producers behind the Oscar-nominated film Brotherhood and special guest Brigitte Lacombe, a prominent French photographer.

The group also enjoyed a private tour of the new Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, prior to attending The International Feature Films of the 92nd Oscars Reception, spotlighting the nominees for Best International Feature Film. QAI and DFI were also honored to join the exclusive luncheon celebrating the female Oscar nominees hosted by fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg. The event toasts women’s empowerment with a special focus on von Furstenberg’s InCharge movement

The group who attended a special dinner with His Excellency Khalid Al Sada (center), Consul General of the State of Qatar in Los Angeles.

and the Academy’s Women’s Initiative.

QAI also partnered with Deborah Sawaf, CEO & Founder of the luxury handbag brand, Thalé Blanc, to host a High Tea and Talk on multiculturalism and female empowerment in the creative and tech industries, with special guest speakers DFI’s Fatma Hassan Alremaihi and the CEO and Founder of The Female Quotient, Shelley Zalis.

The event gathered members of the L.A. community to learn about Qatar’s role in advancing women’s rights in the Middle East, DFI’s work in supporting MENA region representation in the international film community, and the importance of promoting women in the technology and creative fields.

Fatma Alremaihi (left) and Fatima Al-Dosari (right) posing with guests at the High Tea event co-hosted with Deborah Sawaf. The delegation received a private tour of the new Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, prior to attending The International Feature Films of the 92nd Oscars Reception .

“Culture and art now is in the forefront of the strategy of Qatar. Our chairperson Sheikha Al-Mayassa, who is the sister of the Emir, the head of state, is spearheading culture. We have six museums that have opened in my country and many are coming in the future. You know that the World Cup will happen in Qatar in 2022 so we’re building all of these stadiums and looking into the legacy afterwards of this tournament and how we can help also other countries who are not able to have stadiums that we’re donating to all of these countries after. So many amazing things are happening. And really in the world that we live in, as small as it is today because of technology, nobody has any reason to say ‘I didn’t know.’”

—Fatma Alremaihi, CEO of the Doha Film Institute (DFI)