Doha: Doha Film Institute (DFI) announced that its “Watching the Classics” online programme fourth session will be on June 23.
Through this, filmmakers and cinephiles can deepen their knowledge of film history.
For this month’s session, the featured film is “Fires Were Started” by Director Humphrey Jennings, the movie was released in 1943.
Presented by renowned scholar Richard Peña, Professor of Film Studies at Columbia University and Director Emeritus of the New York Film Festival, this series of lectures/discussions each focuses on an undisputed world cinema classic.
“Professor Peña will present a given film within its aesthetic, economic, technological and social/political context, detailing each director’s formal techniques while teasing out the implications of these artistic and technical decisions,” said DFI on its website.
During the lecture, select images and clips will be included for discussion, and participants will be able to send Professor Peña questions, which will be addressed at the end of each session.
“Fires Were Started” follows a long night among a group of volunteer firemen who struggle to put out a blaze caused by German bombing.
Completely using non-actors and filming them as they actually try to put out a fire, Director Jennings crafted not only a moving celebration of the steel will of the British people to defend their country at all costs, but also an anticipation of the “Neorealist” cinema that would soon revolutionise world cinema.
The fee for this session is QR70 and if the participant is a Qatar Museums Culture Pass Member, fee will be QR56.
The programme is open to applicants over the age of 18, and the sessions are best suited for those with some knowledge of filmmaking and who wish to expand their understanding of film history.
