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Qatar’s Doha Film Institute (DFI) has cancelled the 11th edition of its Ajyal Film Festival, which was due to take place from November 8 to 16, due to the Israel-Hamas conflict
It is the third film festival in the Arab world to be called off in the last 48 hours as anger grows in the Middle East over the rising death toll in Gaza due to Israel’s blockade and bombing of the Palestinian territory.
Israel has taken this action in response to horrific Hamas terror attacks on Southern Israel, in which more than 1,400 people were killed and another 199 taken hostage. Leaders worldwide have acknowledged Israel’s right to defend itself.
More than 3,000 Gaza residents have died in the retaliatory bombing campaign while the territory’s 2.1 million residents are without fresh food, water and power supplies.
The DFI, which has strong ties with the Palestinian filmmaking community, said it was cancelling the Ajyal out of “solidarity” with its “Palestinian brothers and sisters”.
“As those of you familiar with the festival have come to know, Ajyal as an event is much more than an annual celebration of the art of storytelling. At its heart, Ajyal is a grassroots event that is created and delivered by the community, for the community,” said the institute.
“At this time, we are grieving alongside the community within our region and are devastated by the staggering daily loss of innocent lives. It is simply not a time for celebration, it is a time for focused and intentional action.”
Noting that its core remits is to champion voices from underrepresented communities, the institute said “amplifying Palestinian stories” had been a “crucial” part of its work as a cultural organisation.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to empowering their authentic representation and stand firmly for the accurate portrayal of their experiences and humanity.”
“In this spirit, in lieu of delivering this year’s edition of the Ajyal Film Festival, the Institute will be exploring new avenues to use our platform to expand the reach and volume of Palestinian voices worldwide. The time for meaningful action is now, and it is more important than ever for us to continue to serve as a conduit for their unfiltered narratives to be heard, recognised, and respected.”
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