The Doha Film Institute today announced that the fourth edition of the Ajyal Youth Film Festival will be held from November 30 to December 5, 2016.

' Ajyal', Arabic for 'generations', brings individuals of any ages together through screenings and events that motivate innovative interaction and stimulate cinematic dialogue. Youth involvement is at the heart of the Festival and its jury program which provides young people in between the ages of 8 and 21 with an opportunity to enjoy, analyse and talk about movies from all over the world, establishing vital thinking, self-expression, and a gratitude of cinema.

The Cultural Village Foundation-Katara continues as the 'Cultural Partner' to the Festival for the fourth year running. Occidental Petroleum Corporation will act as a 'Principal Partner' marking its 4th year of collaboration with the Institute, additional structure on its dedication to the regional neighborhood by playing an active role in supporting talent and reinforcing Qatar's cultural landscape.

Fatma Al Remaihi, Chief Executive Officer of the Doha Film Institute and Director of the Ajyal Youth Film Festival, stated: "We look forward to building on the successes of the Ajyal Youth Film Festival that showed that films can do more than just entertain; it can educate, influence and bring neighborhoods together. One of the vital initiatives of the Doha Film Institute in establishing Arab voices is cultivating an understanding and gratitude of positive cinema among kids and youth. This is reflected in the Ajyal Jurors, whereby youth from across the world, commemorate world movie theater through discussion and discussion, challenging their thought process and assisting shape understandings about issues influencing today's youth."

The 3rd Ajyal Youth Film Festival hosted almost 600 young jurors of 45 nationalities, alongside a vibrant public program of screenings and events that included the MENA premiere of Hany Abu Assad's The Idol, the opening night of Bilal, the first animated function from the GCC area and the very first of its kind inclusive movie theater experience in the region, the screening of Hero and the Message to mark UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

The film programme included 80 films from 36 countries in addition to 50 public screenings and a variety of interactive panels, masterclasses and workshops created to inform, engage and amuse. The line-up included the Middle East Premieres of Pixar Animation Studios The Good Dinosaur, Berlin Film Festival Golden Bear-winner, Jafar Panahi's Taxi, among the last anime sensations from Ghibli Studios, When Marnie Was There, Doha Film Institute grantee Lamb by Yared Zeleke and Cannes 'Un Certain Regard' opener An, by Japanese director and Qumra 2016 master Naomi Kawase, together with a program of 17 movies by Qatar-based filmmakers that evaluated in the popular Made in Qatar area.

The festival also provided the third edition of the Doha Giffoni Youth Media Summit, hosted by the Doha Film Institute in collaboration with Italy's Giffoni Experience, where it showcased its Planet-Y effort with five jobs that will be supported in the coming months to promote the inclusive development of youth skill all over the world, specifically in conflict areas.

Ajyal 2015 also hosted the Ajyal Creativity Hub which offered guests an opportunity to explore an out-of-cinema experience, helping them discover the latest in technology, the media arts and world cultures. The Ajyal Creativity Hub hosted specially curated workshops, performances and fun activities devised to spark the imagination and promote creativity. Key components of the Ajyal Creativity Hub, which is free for the public to attend, include the popular Sandbox digital exhibition space, Family Weekend activities, and the festivals special 2015 initiative Geekdom: Video Game Exhibition.
More details will be revealed in the coming months. Registration for the youth jury will open in September.