Doha, August 29 (QNA) - Doha Film Institute (DFI) celebrates another major milestone with eight Institute-supported films selected for the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, reaffirming its commitment to championing independent filmmakers and bringing distinctive voices from the Arab world and beyond to the global stage.
Taking place from September 2 to 12 at the Lido di Venezia, the festival will feature DFI-supported films across four key programmes: the Orizzonti Competition, Venice Spotlight, the Venice Gap-Financing Market and Final Cut. 
Chief Executive Officer of Doha Film Institute Fatma Hassan Alremaihi commented: "Great cinema begins with a voice that needs to be heard. At DFI, we believe in giving bold filmmakers the support they need to transform distinctive experiences into stories that can travel far beyond its origins. At a time when authentic voices and diverse perspectives matter more than ever, cinema has a vital role to play in preserving memory and expanding our understanding of one another. We are proud to stand behind filmmakers whose work challenges conventions, deepens empathy and expands the possibilities of meaningful cinema for audiences today and generations to come."
Selected for the Orizzonti Competition, dedicated to films representing new aesthetic and expressive trends in international cinema, is House of the Wind by Bernard Auguste Kouemo Yanghu.
Featured in Venice Spotlight, which showcases a curated selection of innovative and creatively original works, is Conversation with the Sea by Muayad Alayan.
Two DFI-supported films have been selected for the Venice Gap-Financing Market, which connects filmmakers with potential collaborators and financiers to complete their projects. They are Faux Bijoux, a feature narrative by Jessy Moussallem. Also selected is Wolfmother by Ismael El Iraki.
Four DFI-backed projects will be presented through Final Cut in Venice, the industry programme supporting films in post-production and connecting filmmakers with international industry partners. The selection includes A Quarter to Thursday by Sofia Djama; Eldorado, The Taste of the South by Alaa Eddine Aljem; Occupational Hazards by Bassel Ghandour; and Plague by Youssef Chebbi.
The eight-film presence at Venice underscores DFI's long-standing commitment to investing in filmmakers at different stages of their creative journeys, from development and financing to international exposure. Through its funding, talent development and industry initiatives, DFI continues to champion filmmakers to help build a more diverse, sustainable and interconnected global film ecosystem. 
To date, the Institute has supported more than 1000 films from over 85 countries, strengthening the pathways for independent cinema to reach audiences worldwide. (QNA)