FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE RED CARPET ROLLS OUT AS INTERNATIONAL MOVIE STARS,

FILMMAKERS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE, AND INDUSTRY
LUMINARIES ARRIVE IN QATAR FOR THE KICK-OFF OF THE DOHA
TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL
***
Thousands expected at Museum of Islamic Art for Opening Night
Festivities and
free, open-air screening of Mira Nair’s Amelia

Doha, Qatar [28 October 2009] – After nearly a year of intense planning, the
Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF) kicks off tomorrow with the likes of
legendary director Martin Scorsese, Academy Award-winning actors Robert
De Niro and Sir Ben Kingsley, and Egyptian screen sensation Youssra. DTFF,
a partnership between the Qatar Museums Authority and Tribeca
Enterprises, will run 29 October through 1 November.

As part of Opening Night, DTFF also will feature a free, open-air screening of
Amelia on the enormous 24-meter wide screen constructed on the grounds
of the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA). More than 3,000 members of the Qatari
community are expected to attend, and DTFF will live-stream all of the
glamour from the red carpet, including celebrity interviews, to the giant
screen, so that festivalgoers don’t miss a moment of the excitement.
Additional entertainment will be provided by the Qatar Philharmonic
Orchestra, which will perform live prior to the Amelia screening.

Then on Friday, 30 October, screenings will start at City Center Cinemas, the
beach at the Four Seasons and the MIA Gallery. On Saturday, 31 October,
there will be a special screening at Souq Waqif as well as Villaggio’s IMAX
cinema. Check www.dohatribecafilm.com for the latest schedule.

In addition to films
Starting Friday, the MIA grounds will be transformed for Family Day from
1:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Guests can take a Bollywood or Hip Hop lesson from an international dance
troupe, which also will perform jaw-dropping stunts and martial arts
demonstrations. Or participants may take part in an animation workshop to
learn the basics of making an animated film. With the addition of arts and
crafts, face painting and Titan The Robot – an 8-foot tall robot who brings out
the child in everyone—there’s something for everyone.

Director Martin Scorsese will be on hand on Friday at the MIA for a special
event, to view some of the one-minute films created this summer during
DTFF’s educational workshops. Scorsese will offer feedback to these budding
filmmakers as well as general comment about the art of filmmaking.

Friday evening, Family Day activities center around the MIA’s enormous
screen and open-air theater, which will show two family-friendly films. The
first is the world premiere of inspirational animated film Assila, which focuses
on the themes of family, loyalty, love and courage. The second is Turtle:
The Incredible Journey, the fascinating story of a Loggerhead turtle’s lifelong
journey. The Loggerhead turtle has one of the longest, most amazing
migrations of the animal kingdom.

For those looking for something more grown-up on Friday night, the Four
Seasons beach will provide a striking setting for another DTFF free, outdoor
screening. This time of Captain Abu Raed, a story about friendship,
inspiration and heroism set in contemporary Jordan.

Special screenings Saturday

After a day of films, workshops and panel discussions, DTFF invites the
community to spend Halloween night under the stars with a trio of free
screenings. Souq Waqif will provide a dramatic backdrop for the Qatar
premiere of The Mummy (Al-Momia), which is based on the true story of the
Horabat tribe, an upper-class Egyptian clan that robbed a tomb of pharaohs
to sell the artifacts on the black market. Prior to the start of the film,
dancers will entertain the crowds with exotic fire dancing displays.

That same evening, the Four Seasons beach will host a duo of moving films
by Mira Nair –Moonsoon Wedding and The Namesake. Both films centre
around the themes of love and families.

The grand finale

Just like its dynamic start, the Festival will close on Sunday with excitement,
engaging programming, glamour and even a surprise or two. The day kicks
off with DTFF Filmmaker Day at the Museum of Islamic Art from 9:00 a.m. –
2:00 p.m. Activities during Filmmaker Day include a special screening of The
Time That Remains, followed by a Master Class with the film’s director – Elia
Suleiman, as well as a screening of the inspirational film, Team Qatar,
followed by a live debate about the film dubbed, “Up For Debate: The Film
Challenge.” Comedians Dean Obeidallah, Maysoon Zayid and Omar
Offendum will even participate in the live debate.

Filmmaker Day goers can also learn how to be a stuntman, how to be an

improv actor, how to make a one-minute film and even how to be a TV news
reporter. They can also attend workshops on screenwriting, animation and
3D-TV, and stop in at the Peace & Love Booth, in which people are
encouraged to share their secret to happiness, talk about how they would
like to make a difference in the world.

Fresh off the Los Angeles set of his latest film, a sequel to Meet the Parents,
Hollywood heavyweight and Tribeca Film Festival co-founder Robert De Niro
arrives on Sunday to close the Festival in grand style. Before hitting the red
carpet and co-hosting the DTFF Awards Show, De Niro also will headline a
panel about the one-minute films created this summer by DTFF workshop
participants. Like his good friend and colleague, Martin Scorsese, De Niro
will offer the nascent filmmakers his feedback and talk about his experiences
in the industry as a director, producer and actor.

When the sun sets on Sunday, DTFF will pull out the final flourishes to
officially close the Festival. The MIA will once again provide the backdrop for
the festivities, which will include a star-studded red carpet and Awards Show,
followed by a free, open-air screening of a surprise, top-secret film. While
Festival organizers cannot reveal the details of the film, it promises to be an
amazing selection.

Please Note: There will be no parking at the MIA during the Festival. Visitors
are encouraged to park at the Civil Defense roundabout and take the free
shuttle to and from the Museum. The shuttle will run every 15 minutes
throughout DTFF. The shuttle’s working hours are:
• 29 October: 15.45 - 00.30
• 30 October: 12.45 - 23.00
• 1 November: 8.45 - 24.00

For parking at Souq Waqif on Saturday, 31 October the shuttle will run only
to and from the Souq from the hours of 18:30 - 24.00. Visitors may park in
the regular parking lot or take the free shuttle from Civil Defense R/A. Beach
chairs will be set up in the lot off of Grand Hammad Street. Guests may
bring their own chairs or blankets. All seating is on a first come first served
basis.

All films in the Festival are suitable for general audiences except where
indicated PG-18. At PG-18 screenings no one under 18 will be admitted
unless accompanied by an individual over 18. Some material may not be
suitable for minors.

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.

###

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For further information and interview requests:

Doha Tribeca Film Festival

Lisa Kirchner, (+974) 452 8246, lkirchner@dohatribecafilm.com

The Portsmouth Group

Eileen Wallis, (+971) 4 369 3575, dtff@theportsmouthgroup.com