Qatar Film Committee Unveils Neon & Department M Partnerships – Doha Film Festival
The Qatar Film Committee has announced partnerships with Neon and Department M in the opening session of a three-day industry event taking place within the context of the new Doha Film Festival..
Under an MOU between Neon and the Qatar Film Committee, the partners will co-develop and produce six to 10 feature films and short films over a four-year period.
Created in 2022 and falling under the remit of Media City Qatar, the body charged with growing the Gulf state as a media and creative industries hub, the fledgeling film committee is headed by Hassan Al Thawadi, the Qatari lawyer who oversaw the organization of the Qatar World Cup.
The deal with Department M will see Doha-based Katara Studios partner on a biopic on the story of “Caesar,” the heroic Syrian military officer who put his own life at risk to expose systemic torture and human-rights abuses inside Syrian prisons during Bashar Al Assad’s reign as President
The partners will to co-develop and co-produce the story, with NEON set to distribute. The project will be supported by Kuwaiti-based Sard Media group, who will document and develop the project.
The three-day Industry Days event has lured a raft of key international cinema professionals with A24 cofounder and CEO Daniel Katz, Department M Co-Founders, Mike Larocca and Michael Schaefer, Brazilian producer and executive, Rodrigo Teixeira and AGC Studios CEO Stuart Ford among many others in the room on Friday.
The new festival and industry event comes amid renewed international focus on the Gulf region following chatter earlier this week that Qatar and neighbors Saudi Arabia and emirate Abu Dhabi could be part of a $71 billion bid by Paramount for Warner Bros Discovery.
Friday’s program also features a panel on producing for a global audience with Jonathan Glickman. The former MGM Motion Picture Group President took up the baton in late 2024 from Bill Block as CEO of Miramax, which is jointly owned by Qatar’s beIN Media Group and Paramount Skydance.
Indian producer Siddharth Roy Kapur (Dangal, Chennai Express), Nigerian media mogul and EbonyLife CEO Mo Abudu and Crazy Rich Asians film producer John Penotti will discuss how stories, talent, and financing from the Global South are reshaping the global film ecosystem.
“We are building the foundations of a world class building ecosystem with the infrastructure, production facilities and post production capabilities supported by mass technology, data analytics and one of the world’s most competitive incentive schemes,” said Al Thawadi.
“Our mission is simple, to create an environment where filmmakers can dream boldly, produce fearlessly and tell stories that moves audiences everywhere but our ambitions extend far beyond. We are here to champion our cinema, nurture regional talent and deepen collaboration across the Arab world.”
more to follow…
