Qatar 365 celebrates Women’s History Month, spotlighting female creatives in Qatar that are pushing the boundaries in visual arts, cinematography, and fashion.
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00:00We've seen amazing examples of female filmmakers who are trailblazing and doing this and becoming
00:07an example for other female filmmakers.
00:10Sustainability is not about just being vegan or wearing natural clothes, it's also about
00:15equity.
00:17Hello, welcome to Qatar 365 with me, Adil Haleem.
00:24On this episode, we continue to shine a light on women who are making waves in the creative
00:28world, whether it's visual arts, cinematography or fashion.
00:33But first, we're here at the Doha Fire Station where Laila Humaira met two artists with a
00:37unique take on art and design.
00:42What looks like fallen, wilted bougainvillea petals is Nada El-Kharashi's newest subject
00:48of art exploration.
00:51Instead of letting piles and piles be blown away, she collected them and brought them
00:56back to her studio at the Doha Fire Station.
00:58And it's so vibrant and it's not dead, you know, like it does not look dead to me.
01:04Let me take it and see what I can do with it.
01:06And I think that's how it started.
01:07How can I use this material to create something else?
01:13Inventing new things, that's the motto that led Nada to take the wilting pink petals and
01:18blend them in water to make paper.
01:21I'm creating something but I don't know how it will end.
01:24I'm saying it could be light fixtures, like I see how the light penetrates through, could
01:28create a functional design piece.
01:31I've seen my goal in fire station ending with like a new invented piece that I created throughout
01:39the program.
01:40In 2022, Nada showcased her talent for innovative design in Milan, where she won third place
01:46in an exhibition organized by the renowned designer Rosana Orlandi.
01:52The Qatar-based Egyptian designer was also named one of Forbes Middle East 30 under 30
01:57last year, an accolade she didn't expect at all.
02:01I was very delighted to be together with among other people who merge not just design but
02:09merge other disciplines together.
02:11And from there, I gained that really the word merging is the key.
02:15When once you start merging things together, you produce and whatever you're producing
02:21is very needed.
02:23Nada is among a number of female artists enrolled in the Artist-in-Residence program
02:28here at the Doha Fire Station.
02:30For nine months, the studios become almost like a second home, a safe space for the artists
02:35to explore and nurture their craft.
02:38Whether it's printmaking, woodwork or painting, the diversity in disciplines fuels a culture
02:43of creative expression.
02:46On the hall, we meet Lolwa Al-Maghaysib, a seasoned Qatari artist who has represented
02:51the country in exhibitions around the world.
02:55It took around 15 years for Lolwa to find the signature strokes of the brush she has today.
03:16After capping off a residency in Paris, Lolwa also showcased her artwork in Copenhagen and
03:27most recently held her first solo exhibition in Qatar.
03:47Lolwa hopes that with the creative community she's found at the Doha Fire Station, it will
03:55inspire her to continue her craft and for more women to pursue the art of expression.
04:17The Doha Film Institute is the home of the Ajiyal Film Festival.
04:22Filmmakers and film lovers alike converge to watch the 66 films on offer.
04:27Female filmmakers made more than one-third of the movies shown during the popular festival's
04:3212th edition.
04:33I caught up with the institute's CEO, Fatima Al-Rumaihi, to find out why she believes Ajiyal
04:38is a crucial platform to inspire conversations and bridge cultural divides.
04:45Welcome again to Ajiyal.
04:46Fatima, tell us about Ajiyal and why it's so important to the Doha Film Institute.
04:50Ajiyal is an Arabic word that means generations and from the beginning of Doha Film Institute,
04:58when we started working and paving the way for a film industry in Qatar and the region,
05:03we realized that we're working with a very young audience and we're hoping that this audience
05:10will help build this industry in the future.
05:13A big part of Ajiyal is the Made in Qatar showcase featuring the works of Qatari and
05:18Qatar-based filmmakers.
05:20How have you seen the country's film industry grow over the years?
05:23Made in Qatar is a great platform and also an incentive for filmmakers to make films
05:29every year because they want to be part of the celebration with the community, with their
05:34own family and friends coming and watching their films.
05:37So it's a great incentive from them and from there, these films travel the world after
05:42so they get also to experience different festivals and they meet a lot of the industry.
05:47So for us at the institute, it's a great measure to see how the production and industry is
05:55evolving every year in the country.
05:57During your time at the DFI, have you seen an increase in the number of female filmmakers?
06:01Yes, I think we have the highest percentage in the world in terms of female filmmakers,
06:06because around 60% when you compare it to the Arab region, it's around 28%.
06:11When you compare it to the Americas, it's 9% in independent cinema.
06:16So it's really, we're very happy with the numbers that we see.
06:20It's great because we never put quotas for anything, even in our grants program.
06:25We usually have 50-50 spread between the female and male and it's not because we're putting
06:31any conditions, it's just because we're authentically choosing the right stories.
06:36So across the industry, there's still some work to be done.
06:38What else would you like to see happen to increase representation in the film industry?
06:42I think there's a lot still need to be done.
06:44I mean, we did manage to work through a lot of things over the years
06:49and try to find solutions and programs that include everybody.
06:53But of course, female appreciation in the region is very high,
06:58higher than anywhere else in the world.
07:00And we really want to see more and more stories.
07:03We need people to get out of their comfort a little bit more.
07:06And we've seen amazing examples of female filmmakers who are trailblazing and doing this
07:12and becoming an example for other female filmmakers.
07:15But as always, there are some sensitivities.
07:18So as soon as we try to overcome them and share together the collective experience
07:25and the collective responsibility, it will become easier and easier in the future.
07:29What do you hope your role as a leader signifies to young women interested in a career in film?
07:34It's not just me. Also, our chairperson, Sheikha Mayasa,
07:37is also a female leader in the arts and culture.
07:40Sheikha Moza in education and everything that she does.
07:43So it's really fantastic to see role models for girls and women here in Qatar.
07:49But not just for Qatar, but everywhere in the region for girls in the region
07:53to see women are not restricted by their hijab or restricted by their traditional attire.
07:58They can do whatever they want. They can be whoever they want.
08:02And they can create change and they can create the waves to make their societies better.
08:09And for you personally, where does your love for film come from?
08:12From childhood, I think. From watching a lot of things.
08:17From giving that chance by my parents to travel and see things around the world.
08:23It all came from there.
08:26And when a film festival happened in Doha, of course, I was one of the first people who joined.
08:32And I've been doing it ever since.
08:35And now you're the CEO.
08:36Yes.
08:37Thank you so much, Fatima.
08:38Thank you so much. Thank you. My pleasure.
08:42From filmmaking to another flourishing industry where women are leaving their mark.
08:46Fashion.
08:47Ioanna Houze meets a Qatari designer whose handmade fabrics are as striking as they are sustainable.
08:55Qatari fashion designer, Mashal Naimi, has an unusual motto, dressing healthy.
09:00In a world of fast fashion, her eco-friendly brand, Mehefhef, is about style and, of course, sustainability.
09:07Designed for the modern woman, but rooted in centuries-old production practices.
09:12Every technique I use for my design was there before the Industrial Revolution.
09:19So you can do this whole thing without any electricity.
09:24No power.
09:25With basic tools like wood, looms, hand-woven.
09:29Everything is done by hand.
09:31And we use natural dyes from pomegranate, from henna, from a lot of things you have in your kitchen.
09:38Saffron, coffee, tea.
09:41That's basically what we use.
09:43And a few plants.
09:46Mehefhef means breezy or flowy and the brand is inspired by the dancing dunes of the desert
09:52and the region's heritage and natural beauty.
09:54Mashal collaborates with artisans from around the world
09:58and her craftsmanship has become a hallmark of her collections.
10:02So much so that Mashal's designs are celebrated not just as pieces of clothing, but pieces of art.
10:08One of her creations, a modern interpretation of the traditional bisht,
10:12is even on display here at the National Museum of Qatar
10:16for its intricate and innovative technique of permanent henna painting.
10:20Quite a feat for a designer who only entered the fashion industry five years ago.
10:26When I was first approached about having a abaya displayed at the National Museum of Qatar,
10:31I was so intimidated.
10:33It was such a proud moment.
10:35I always remember these things like, you know,
10:37Her Highness Sheikha Musa, Her Excellency Sheikha al-Mayasa,
10:41all the women, all the inspiring women that wore my abayas.
10:45And National Museum of Qatar, all these things.
10:48I always remind myself that, you know, you can do more.
10:52You've gone this far, you can do more.
10:55Mashal's commitment to sustainability has made her a leading voice in the region,
10:59pushing the textile industry to produce clothing that's not just fashionable,
11:03but friendly to the planet.
11:05My message to consumers is, please demand more from retailers.
11:11Demand information, demand transparency.
11:14You need to know how your garments are made, who made them.
11:20Because sustainability is not about just, you know, being vegan or wearing natural clothes.
11:26It's also about equity.
11:28It's about living in a society, in a world where you care about each other.
11:32This is the important thing.
11:37Artistic creativity can be channeled in many forms,
11:40including filmmaking, fashion and design.
11:43We hope you enjoyed meeting some incredibly innovative women with us on this episode.
11:47But that's all the time we have for now.
11:49For more, check out euronews.com and connect with us through a hashtag.
11:52Thanks for watching, and we'll see you next time on Qatar 365.