Qatar’s Ajyal Film Festival 2024 Opens with ‘Sudan, Remember Us’

Ajyal Film Festival 2024, Qatar’s much-anticipated annual gathering of global cinema, creativity, and cultural storytelling, opened on Saturday, 16 November with ‘Sudan, Remember Us’ by French-Tunisian journalist Hind Meddeb.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ajyal Film Festival (@ajyalfilm)

‘Sudan, Remember Us’ is a powerful and timely documentary, which captures a jubilant moment of defiance among young Sudanese activists in Khartoum after the overthrow of a long dictatorship, and then chronicles the military crackdown that followed.

The opening of the star-studded film festival, which is taking place from 16 to 23 November 2024, also saw performances by activist and poet Shajan Suliman, a key protagonist in ‘Sudan, Remember Us’, and Sudanese-Canadian poet and singer Mustafa the Poet.

Activist and poet Shajan Suliman, a key protagonist in the #Ajyal24 Opening Film 'Sudan, Remember Us', recits a poem on the resilience and determination of Sudanese youth, which is featured and celebrated in this powerful documentary. pic.twitter.com/sRAyQhN1Ux

— Ajyal Film Festival (@AjyalFilm) November 17, 2024

مقتطفات من حفل الفنان مصطفى الشاعر خلال افتتاح دورتنا الجديدة ليلة أمس. #Ajyal24 pic.twitter.com/5teOk8UO6N

— Ajyal Film Festival (@AjyalFilm) November 17, 2024

‘Sudan, Remember Us’ is supported by Doha Film Institute (DFI), Qatar’s first international organisation dedicated to film financing, production, education and the film festivals, including Ajyal. The inspiring documentary delves deep into the untold stories of Sudan, bringing forward young voices of resilience, dignity, and hope in the face of turmoil, and highlights the strength of the Sudanese people in their struggle for peace and unity. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival earlier this year, and aptly conveys the power of dreams, hope and creativity to challenge oppressive forces.

‘Opening Ajyal with Sudan, Remember Us reflects our commitment to bring light to regions often overlooked and amplify voices that embody the resilience and strength of the human spirit,’ said the CEO of DFI and Ajyal Festival Director, Fatma Hassan Alremaihi.

This year’s Ajyal invites many well-known Sudanese personalities and creatives including YouTuber Maha Jaafar, political cartoonist Khalid Albaih, and Sudanese filmmaker Amjad Al Nour.

We are excited to welcome the region’s most prolific content creators in the field of culture and entertainment ay #Ajyal24. See you in a 3 days. pic.twitter.com/YfFsyeWFPx

— Ajyal Film Festival (@AjyalFilm) November 13, 2024

Delighted to announce more #Ajyal24 special guests who will be inspiring our jurors via fascinating discussions on art, culture and music. pic.twitter.com/EYvlyqnt4G

— Ajyal Film Festival (@AjyalFilm) November 14, 2024

For more information about Ajyal, visit my.dohafilminstitute.com/ajyal/films