Doha, February 05 (QNA) - Doha Film Institute has announced its selection of five internationally renowned film visionaries who will serve as Qumra Masters for its tenth annual industry incubator event to be held from March 1-6, 2024.

Qumra is one of the world's few standalone events designed to provide emerging filmmakers with the unmatched opportunity to be mentored by global cinematic masters and industry experts while also offering networking and collaboration opportunities with film industry professionals.

At the heart of the projects program are the Qumra Masters, luminaries in cinema who provide one-on-one mentorship to participating filmmakers providing insights that help them elevate their craft, improve their projects, and enhance the overall script-to-screen experience.

This year, Doha Film Institute is welcoming acclaimed filmmakers Leos Carax, Claire Denis, Atom Egoyan, Mart?n Hern?ndez, and Jim Sheridan, as 2024 Qumra Masters, who will share their directorial expertise with Qumra delegates and registered participants.

A filmmaker whose work defies the conventional boundaries of narrative and style, Leos Carax's career has been a relentless pursuit of artistic innovation. Carax's filmography is rich with thematic and artistic innovation. It includes notable works such as 'Mauvais Sang' (Bad Blood, 1986), 'Les Amants du Pont Neuf' (The Lovers on the Bridge, 1991), and the 2012 film 'Holy Motors', selected for Official Competition at the Cannes Film Festival. His latest feature film 'Annette' (2021), a pop-rock melodrama starring Marion Cotillard and Adam Driver, won the award for Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival.

Recognized for their unique approach, Claire Denis' films challenge viewers to confront the boundaries of culture and identity. Her portfolio of work includes acclaimed films such as 'US Go Home' (1994), 'Nénette et Boni' (1996), 'Beau Travail' (1999), 'Trouble Every Day' (2001), 'Vendredi Soir' (2002) and '35 Rhums' (2009). Denis enjoyed an incredibly successful 2022 with her emotionally cutting 'Both Sides of the Blade' winning the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival and her enigmatic 'Stars at Noon', nominated for the Palme d'Or and awarded the Grand Prize of the Cannes Film Festival.

Celebrated for his roles as writer, director and producer, Atom Egoyan (The Sweet Hereafter, 1997) has won five top honours at Cannes Film Festival and two Academy Award? nominations. One of the driving forces of the Toronto New Wave in cinema, his most recent film, Seven Veils, will have its International Premiere at this year's Berlin Film Festival, adding to his legacy of mesmerising storytelling and visual artistry. Showcasing his talent as a storyteller across any form, Egoyan has achieved similar acclaim in opera and theatre.

Mart?n Hern?ndez is an internationally revered supervising sound editor and sound designer whose distinguished career has seen him become a two-time Academy Award nominee for Best Sound Editing for 'Birdman' (2014) and 'The Revenant' (2015), directed by Alejandro G. I??rritu. He is also a BAFTA winner for 'The Revenant' and has been nominated for 'Pan's Labyrinth', 'Babel', and 'Birdman'. Last summer, Hernandez co-supervised and designed for Issa L?pez the 4th season of the HBO 'True Detective: Night Country'. He and his team made the sound for 'Radical', by Chris Zalla, debuting at Sundance Film Festival 2023, co-supervised 'Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths' by Alejandro Gonzalez I??rritu, 'The Sky Is Everywhere' by Josephine Decker, and 'Emily the Criminal' by John Patton Ford. In 2020, he re-mixed the 'Amores Perros' soundtrack released by Criterion Collection on the 20th Anniversary of the film.

Eminent Irish playwright, screenwriter, film director and producer, Jim Sheridan (My Left Foot, 1989; In the Name of the Father, 1993; In America, 2002) has earned six Academy Award nominations and is a pivotal figure in sharing Ireland's culture with the world. His collaborations with Daniel Day-Lewis in three films, including the Academy Award-winning 'My Left Foot', have not only showcased Sheridan's ability as a director but also played a part in establishing Day-Lewis as, according to Time Magazine, 'The World's Greatest Actor'. Sheridan's versatility as a filmmaker is further highlighted by his work on big-budget studio productions such as 'Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2005), 'Brothers' (2009), and 'Dream House' (2011).

Chief Executive Officer of the Doha Film Institute, Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, said: "As the Arab world's first-of-its-kind talent incubator, Qumra has served as the preeminent platform for emerging talents to give their projects a distinct advantage through invaluable networking sessions with leading industry professionals. The guidance they receive through Qumra enables them to approach their project from a richer perspective and navigate the various challenges in the script-to-screen journey.

"What makes this experience rewarding is the opportunity to have direct access to our acclaimed Qumra Masters, who have redefined the parameters of film through bold innovation and exceptional creativity. We are proud and honored to welcome Leos Carax, Claire Denis, Atom Egoyan, Mart?n Hern?ndez, and Jim Sheridan as our Qumra Masters for this landmark year. Their contribution to world cinema is extraordinary, and Qumra delegates this year can look forward to an enriching experience under their remarkable mentorship as we now enter our milestone tenth edition."

Artistic Advisor at Doha Film Institute, Elia Suleiman, said "Our Qumra Masters are bold and visionary filmmakers who have left an indelible imprint in world cinema with unique and innovative approaches to storytelling. Their cinematic oeuvre stands out for their fearless exploration of the medium. Their perspectives on filmmaking will undoubtedly benefit our young filmmakers, and in turn, contribute to a richer body of works by emerging talents in the region and beyond."

Over the past nine editions, Qumra has played a significant role in driving the success of filmmakers from the Arab and wider world, and in supporting important independent voices in storytelling. The Qumra 2024 projects will be announced shortly. Participants will have access to mentorship from the Masters as well as take part in networking sessions with industry professionals and experts. (QNA)