Dohas 11e The Ajyal Film Festival, which was scheduled to take place from November 8 to 16, has been canceled due to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Qatar’s Doha Film Institute said in a statement that it stood “in solemn solidarity with our Palestinian brothers and sisters” and decided not to go ahead with plans for this year’s event.
“At this time, we join the community in our region in mourning and are devastated by the staggering daily loss of innocent lives. It is simply not a time for celebration, it is a time for focused and deliberate action,” the Institute said.
In lieu of holding the Ajyal festival, the Institute added that it will “explore new avenues to use our platform to expand the reach and volume of Palestinian voices worldwide.” The Qatari cultural institution’s Ajyal festival, which has close ties with Palestinian filmmakers and others in the Middle East, is the latest event in the region to see plans canceled due to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
On October 7, Hamas terrorists launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, leading to the deaths of approximately 1,400 Israelis, and nearly 200 Israelis were taken hostage in Gaza. In response, Israel has launched a formal war against the Hamas organization in Gaza, as world leaders have stepped forward to defend the country’s right to defend itself.
The Cairo Film Festival canceled its upcoming event from November 15 to 24 due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. And Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival, which was due to start on October 13, said it would postpone its opening night until October 27 amid escalating violence in the region.
