Alexander Sokurov, Nuri Bilge Ceylan join Doha's Qumra event as masters

PanARMENIAN.Net - Revered Russian auteur Alexander Sokurov (“Francofonia”) and Turkey’s pluriprized Nuri Bilge Ceylan (“Winter Sleep”) have joined Japan’s Naomi Kawase and Argentina’s Lucrecia Martel as masters of the Doha Film Institute’s innovative Qumra event which blends creative workshop and festival elements.

Qumra, which is an Arab word believed to be the origin of the word “camera,” is dedicated to fostering first and second works from the Arab world.

“We are proud to welcome Nuri Bilge Ceylan and Alexander Sokurov to Qumra,” enthused DFI CEO Fatma Al Remaihi in a statement. “They have each created a distinctive body of work and a cinematic legacy for generations to come. They are an inspiration, not only to the emerging filmmakers whose work will be mentored through Qumra, but to us all.”

As part of their role as Qumra Masters, they will each participate in a series of masterclasses, workshops and one-on-one sessions with directors of participating DFI-backed projects and industry professionals from around the world, and also screen one of their pics for Doha audiences.

Last year a high-caliber roster of more than 100 prominent international industry reps, including Toronto topper Cameron Bailey, Wild Bunch chief Vincent Maraval, New York’s Open City Films founder Jason Kliot attended Qumra. It was centered around 29 DFI-backed projects, mostly from the Arab world. This year, which is also shaping up as a pretty classy affair, the number of participating projects is 30.

The second edition of Qumra will take place in Doha March 4-9.