DOHA: Doha Film Institute (DFI) recently kicked off its ‘Youth Acting Workshop’ under the mentorship of Tunisian director and actress Afef Ben Mahmoud.
DFI CEO Fatma Al Remaihi said: “Our young people are at the heart of everything we do at the Doha Film Institute. From hosting a dedicated film event for youth to hosting creative workshops, we are focused on nurturing their skills. With the ‘Youth Acting Workshop,’ we are opening doors for young talents to understand the nuances of acting, and learn the art of improvisation, which will help the participants not just in their creative pursuits but also to evolve as confident individuals.” The core of the Doha Film Institute’s ‘Youth Acting Workshop’ is to teach acting through the power of improvisation that encourages students to perform in public without a predefined text or prior direction. Improvisation will help develop creativity and listening skills, as well as make the participants conscious of the body and its movements. The first half hour of the session is dedicated to body work, relaxation and breathing. The rest of the session focuses on individual and group improvisation exercises.
The participants are trained in two groups: 8 to 12-year-olds, and 13 to 17-year-olds. There are two sessions every week of two-hours each on Monday and Wednesdays with a participation fee of QR1,000. The sessions for the first group run from 3 to 5pm and for the second group from 5 to 7pm.
Winner of the first Best Comedian Award in Tunisia, Afef Ben Mahmoud, had her first big-screen role in Jilani Saâdi’s Khorma, and played the lead in Ibrahim Letaief’s Flous Academy and Nouri Bouzid’s Making Off, which won awards at several international film festivals. She has directed three short narrative films and a documentary, and is currently developing her first feature-length film, Backstage.
The workshop, which runs until November 23, is still open for registration. Those interested can email [email protected] for more details.
