The third annual Ajyal Youth Film Festival concluded Saturday evening, presenting top prizes to films from Australia, the Philippines and Spain.
"I would like to commend our Ajyal Jurors for the dedication and enthusiasm they have brought to the task of determining the competition winners this year – their enthusiasm and insight is an inspiration to us all. I congratulate all of our 2015 winners and sincerely thank all of the filmmakers who have joined us in Doha this week for sharing their stories and creative talents," Fatma Al Remaihi, festival director and CEO of the Doha Film Institute, said, according to a press release .
Meaning "generations" in Arabic, Ajyal "invites people of all ages to come together to discuss cinema through events that inspire creative interaction, opening up a fun, collaborative environment where young people can express themselves," according to the website. Presented by the Doha Film Institute, the festival "has been designed to empower the region’s youth and to inspire film enthusiasts of all ages."
In addition to the the top winners, the Lebanese film "That Day in September" by Karim Jaafar received a "Special Mention" by the jurors. True to its mission of inspiring and empowering youth, the festivals' juror were aged 8 to 21.
Here is a closer look at the winning films.