media

let’s talk

I’m going to try to get myself into the audience of one of the ‘Doha Debates’ when series seven begins October 2010.

The Doha Debates is hosted (and debates chaired) by BBC World newsman Tim Sebastian, while the series is financed by the Qatar Foundation (… for Education, Science and Community Development). 8 episodes per season. Past topics include: Hamas meets Fatah, Obama’s influence and the Middle East, breaking down the story of Dubai, Women, Islam and the Freedom to Marry, among many many others. 1 hour long. 4 guests (two pro the given argument and two against) clash on the topic at hand with Tim navigating through impassioned perspectives, heated statements, audience responses to keep all on track and all progressively moving the debate forward. Who can resist some healthy and provocative political chit chat?

When something of interest catches my eye here, the Qatar Foundation often plays a part. QF is a private non-profit organization ‘guided by the principle that a nation’s greatest resource is the potential of its people, Qatar Foundation aims to develop that potential through a network of centers devoted to progressive education, research and community welfare.’  http://www.qf.org.qa Pretty cool. What an asset for a city currently undergoing mammoth change in every direction to have such a strong force supporting the social, cultural, creative, and political fabrics of its identity.

dfi

Exciting news.

“Qatar unveils umbrella organisation Doha Film Institute”

The state of Qatar launched the Doha Film Institute (DFI), an umbrella organisation to oversee its various film-related activities, in Cannes yesterday.

DFI initiatives include film education, production, financing and the annual Doha Tribeca Film Festival, which is a partnership with New York’s Tribeca Enterprises.

“The Doha Film Institute’s goal is to build a sustainable film industry in Qatar with strong links to the international film community,” said DFI founder H.E. Sheikha Al Mayassa Bint Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani. “Film can do more than just entertain; it can educate, inspire and unite communities and we want to nurture and support filmmakers as we continue to grow Qatar as a cultural hub for film.”

Read More Here.

Author: Liz Shakleton
Provided by: ScreenDaily