Katara Studios Presents Qatari Feature Film Sa3oud Wainah? to Audiences

Katara Studios presented a special screening of the Qatari feature film Sa3oud Wainah? this evening at Novo Cinemas in Doha Oasis.

The film represents a milestone in the development of Qatari cinema and forms part of Katara Studios' efforts to support and advance local film production. It was produced entirely in Qatar with a local crew and directed by Qatari filmmaker Mohammed Al Ibrahim.

The cast includes Mishaal Al Dosari, Saad Al Naimi and Abdelaziz Al Dorani, alongside Jabr Al Fayad, Faisal Rashid, Abdullah Al Harbi, Ibrahim Mirza and Ali Al Marri.

Sa3oud Wainah? is a 90-minute mystery thriller set during an ordinary night at a remote farmhouse, where brothers Hamood and Sa3oud recreate a childhood magic trick inherited from their late father. Blending folklore, mystery and psychological tension, the film explores brotherhood, guilt, faith and the dividing line between illusion and reality.

In remarks to Qatar News Agency, Qatari director Ahmed Al Baker, Chief Executive Officer of Katara Studios, said Sa3oud Wainah? is the first Qatari feature film produced by the studios. It follows years of work on Arab film and television productions since Katara Studios was established in 2018.

Al Baker explained that the studios had accumulated production and technical experience through film, television, advertising and music projects, as well as projects associated with major events. This helped build Qatari capabilities that enabled the studios to move into the production of a locally made feature film.

He said the film belongs to the thriller and suspense genres, offering an entertainment experience built around presenting the audience with a mystery and involving viewers in efforts to solve it as the story unfolds. It also incorporates social and youth-focused messages alongside comedic elements.

Al Baker said Katara Studios was not relying primarily on box-office performance, given the limited number of Qatari feature films produced locally. Instead, the studios aim to deliver a complete Qatari cinematic experience through a Qatari screenplay, dialogue and cast, while making the film available to audiences in Qatar and the wider region. The film is scheduled to screen in Qatari cinemas and be distributed across the Gulf states and Iraq from 15 October.

He also revealed that Katara Studios plans to strengthen local artistic production in the coming period, with the aim of ensuring that Sa3oud Wainah? is followed by other feature films rather than remaining a standalone project. This will take place alongside continued Arab co-productions, including the film project "سلالة" by Saudi director Hisham Fageeh, in which Katara Studios is participating as a co-producer and handling post-production in Qatar, including sound, picture, colour grading, visual effects, mixing and final preparation.

Al Baker stressed the importance of cooperation with the Doha Film Institute, Media City Qatar and the Film Support and Development Committee in building an integrated film industry ecosystem in Qatar. He also highlighted the studios' commitment to supporting young Qatari talent and professionals and providing them with employment and training opportunities across the different stages of production.

Director Mohammed Al Ibrahim told QNA that the idea for the film began as a joke among a group of friends after their colleague Saad developed a habit of disappearing during their gatherings, prompting them to repeatedly ask, "Saad Wainah?" The idea later developed into a feature-film project, and transforming the simple concept into a full-length production took four months. He described it as an enjoyable experience and said most of the crew were friends with whom he had worked for years, creating a positive atmosphere during filming.

Al Ibrahim said most of the film's scenes were shot at a farmhouse, which helped shape its visual identity and distinctive atmosphere. He added that the production involved directing and technical challenges that were addressed during the various stages of implementation.

He described the theatrical release of a Qatari feature film as an achievement and the beginning of a new chapter for Qatari cinema, expressing pride in local talent and film production. He also praised the support of the organisations that contributed to completing the film, particularly the Doha Film Institute, Media City Qatar and Katara Studios, saying their backing was essential to presenting the finished film to audiences.

Source: QNA

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