Qumra Master Lynne Ramsay.
Doha: Cannes and BAFTA-award-winning director and Qumra Master Lynne Ramsay has lauded the annual industry talent incubator event by the Doha Film Institute, Qumra 2023 in supporting young budding filmmakers in realising their vision for their films.
“It’s very supportive here for young filmmakers and I think that’s a bit diminishing all over the world. (Qumra) is a space for new filmmakers because [elsewhere] it gets more tough and tough,” she told The Peninsula in an interview.
Qumra is an initiative of DFI that aims to mentor, support, and actively develop international and Qatari filmmakers. Its goal is to empower producers and directors creatively and professionally. This year, the programme is mentoring 44 films, including feature narratives, documentaries, web series, and shorts from 23 countries.
The acclaimed director also noticed that this year a lot of films’ subjects are focused on families. “The films (at Qumra 2023) are quite diverse and some are super personal, it’s been interesting to see and also a lot are about families… I think maybe it’s because of the COVID-19 – they examine more a bit of home, what home means.”
“.. Some films seem to be about growing up, relationships within the family, something we can always relate to,” she said.
Ramsay has also proposed that filmmakers can focus on the environment and global developments for their upcoming movies. “It’s hard to make sense of this world right now, so crazy, I think the concern about the environment [is important], what’s changing. I think there’s hope for these new filmmakers to show what is happening on a personal way because it’s a big crazy world… [and] even the smallest subject matters.”
With the vast libraries of movies and series available anytime at various streaming online platforms, Ramsay said filmmakers’ projects should make “a lasting impression.”
“I think we’re being swamped (with content), there’s too much stuff (online). Watching so much but you don’t really get satisfaction, and everyone’s looking for the new thing. Amazing work of things are really hard to make and it also makes a lasting impression.”
On the possibility of making or producing a film in Qatar, Ramsay said: “maybe, I have to spend more time here but who knows.”
And a message to all upcoming filmmakers: “Just believe in your own version, think about what you can do for the world rather than what is expected from you, or to follow the line. You need some digression, some punks out there, some people who are smashing a little bit.”
