Issue 7
Qataris Abroad
The set of
AlMarri’s film
“Embodiment”
KHALIFA
ALMARRI
From one-man
crew to international
filmmaker
A
lMarri remembers the moment fondly: “The first man crew. That’s when I got the recognition and
time my film screened at the school’s theatre... appreciation for being able to do all those things.”
all my friends and teachers gathered around me
asking all kind of questions about the film and how
I managed to do it”. For AlMarri this was the turning
point that would see his creative journey venture
from the classroom to international film festivals. “I
was always afraid of putting my work out there for
How do you know when you have a calling in life? Many feel as if they
will never know, but for Khalifa AlMarri, his inspiration came early, and
he has never looked back. It all began when his teacher gave him a
video assignment at school.
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people to judge, but in that moment, I knew that this
is what I’m supposed to do.”
What makes his trajectory all the more impressive is
the manner of his success. After winning an award at
Doha Film Institute (DFI), in its role as a platform
for young Qatari artists, offered AlMarri crucial
exposure and provided the filmmaker with formative
experiences that remain with him today. “It’s not
like putting your work on any other online platform,
because you get feedback directly from industry
professionals from all around the world.”
Empowered, AlMarri actively acknowledges that DFI
“guided me to where I am today.”
the 2015 Ajyal Film Festival, it was clear that AlMarri “Embodiment” is one of his films that has thrived
stood out from the crowd. “I was competing with thanks to DFI’s support. Screened at several
big budget films with big crews, and I was a one- international film festivals since 2017, the film
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