Doha Tribeca Film Festival Announces Leadership - Amanda Palmer Named Executive Director

Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF) today announced key members of the team heading up the inaugural 2009 Festival. Amanda Palmer, head of entertainment for Al Jazeera English, has been named DTFF Executive Director. Palmer will lead the Festival and work with a team from Tribeca that includes Geoffrey Gilmore, Chief Creative Officer of Tribeca Enterprises, to shape the programme. Locally the team will include Arab documentary and short films expert Mohamed Maklouf, serving as the festival’s Regional Programmes Advisor, and award-winning Palestinian filmmaker Scandar Copti serving as Community Outreach Programmer. DTFF will run from October 29 to November 1 2009 and is being produced by Qatar Museums Authority (QMA) in collaboration with the Tribeca Film Festival. “Our vision is to create a festival that genuinely engages the Qatari people and supports regional filmmakers,” said Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of QMA. "This team is going to impact the way this region experiences film.” “We are thrilled to have Amanda on board. Her relationships and her understanding of the region will be an enormous asset," said Jane Rosenthal, co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival®. “Together, Amanda and Geoff’s experience will help us engage the film world and the Qatari community in an exchange of ideas through the universal language of film.” "When Her Excellency and I started talking about this possibility, it was always clear that the festival vision was to create an authentic film event that truly serves the community,” said Palmer. "Film is such an amazing equalizer and we felt Tribeca was unique in how it creates an event where filmmakers and film-goers can equally celebrate film." As part of the collaboration with Tribeca, the core team of Qatari nationals travelled to New York to learn how the organisation runs an international film festival. Palmer is leading that group in Doha, modelling DTFF programming on the success of Tribeca while creating an authentic, locally-driven, Middle Eastern film festival. "Doha Tribeca Film Festival seeks to initiate a dialogue about the power of film that resonates long after the Festival’s conclusion and creates a sustainable foundation for the growth of a film industry in Qatar," said Gilmore. "We hope that the Festival will help nurture and support area filmmakers and be an important step towards creating the next generation of filmmakers in Qatar." Copti and Maklouf are working to uncover local and regional film talent, while Palmer and Gilmore are exploring new works from established filmmakers to present works from emerging artists that appeals to the Qatari population, the majority of which is under 30 years old. DTFF will include approximately 30 films, as well as special events. In its four days in Doha, DTFF will centre its events around the city’s renowned Museum of Islamic Art. “As the heart of culture and artistic scholarly vision in Doha, we’re delighted to host this festival,” said Abdulla Al Najjar, chief executive officer at QMA. “We look forward to welcoming new audiences.” Up to date information can be found at, www.dohatff.com. The official website will launch August 18. About DTFF Doha Tribeca Film Festival was formed through a strategic partnership by Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and CEO Abdulla Al Najjar of the Qatar Museums Authority and the Tribeca Film Festival Founders, Jane Rosenthal, Craig Hatkoff, and Robert De Niro. The arrangement was spearheaded by DTFF Executive Director Amanda Palmer. Uniquely Qatari in its identity, the festival is modeled on the success of Tribeca Film Festival’s dedication to engage the local community and promote filmmaking talent. In its inaugural year, Doha’s first international film festival will celebrate the best of Arabic and international cinema. Its ongoing aim will be to inspire, engage and educate a new generation of cinema appreciation locally; discover, mentor and fund regional filmmaking talent; foster a community through art and entertainment; and encourage open discussion and debate.