CMU-Q alum organizing second Qatar 48-Hour Film Challenge
Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q) alumnus Abdulrahman Alfayad is organizing the second Qatar 48-Hour Film Challenge for March 2020. Alfayad is the architect of the first film challenge, held in September, where more than 200 film enthusiasts tackled the task of creating a five-minute film over 48 hours.
At the closing ceremony, 20 films were screened for the judges to an audience of around 250 people.
The competition was a venue for budding filmmakers in Qatar to spread their creative wings. Alfayad, who is a computer science graduate from the CMU-Q Class of 2018, has always been interested in crafting films and short stories, and his interest was piqued when he learned about a 48-hour film challenge in the United States. He did some investigations and realized that there was no similar competition in Qatar.
“I want to help build a stronger film community in Qatar. I thought this initiative could be an opportunity for people with similar interests to come and connect with each other,” Alfayad said.
Alfayad called upon his friends in both the CMU-Q and Education City communities to help with the logistics of the event. Fellow alumni helped get the word out to the community, and Qatar Foundation agreed to let them host the event at the cinema in the student center. Friends pitched in to provide prizes and food, and to volunteer at the event.
Alfayad hopes the competition will become a regular touchpoint for local film lovers. “I want it to be open to everyone of all ages and backgrounds, because everyone comes with a story to tell and a lesson to learn from. I am a film enthusiast, by no means a professional, and I want others like me to have the opportunity to meet, collaborate and learn from one another.”
The second Qatar 48-Hour Film Challenge will be held in Education City during spring break.
Filmmakers at the first Qatar 48-Hour Film Challenge in September 2019.