‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’ to open Doha film festival

Following its critical acclaim at the 69th Venice Film Festival, Mira Nair’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist, a Doha Film Institute (DFI) financed film, will mark its MENA premiere, to usher in the fourth edition of the Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF). Based on the best-selling novel of the same title, translated into 25 languages, The Reluctant Fundamentalist is a riveting international political thriller that follows the story of a young Pakistani man, chasing corporate success on Wall Street, who ultimately finds himself embroiled in a conflict between his American Dream, a hostage crisis, and the enduring call of his family’s homeland. The Reluctant Fundamentalist stars a triumphant cast including Riz Ahmed (Four Lions, Black Gold); Academy Award nominee Kate Hudson (Almost Famous, Nine); Golden Globe winner Kiefer Sutherland (24); Liev Schreiber (Salt, Wolverine); National Film Awards India winner Shabana Azmi (Godmother, Fire); and BAFTA Award nominee Om Puri (East is East, Arohan), among others. The Reluctant Fundamentalist had its world premiere at the ongoing 69 Venice International Film Festival. Adapted by Bill Wheeler, with the Screen Story by Mohsin Hamid, and Ami Boghani and produced by Lydia Dean Pilcher, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, the latest Doha Film Institute’s international financed film, is a Mirabai Films and Cine Mosaic production. Mira Nair said: “We are thrilled with the honour of The Reluctant Fundamentalist opening the Doha Tribeca Film Festival – made all the sweeter after the 5-year odyssey it has been making this film. A lovely send-off for a tale that couldn’t be more timely for the world we live in today. It is rare to be able to make a global film that is both political and personal. DFI provided instrumental support from the beginning, their unstirring faith in this timely story made it happen against all odds.” His Excellency Issa Bin Mohammed Al-Mohannadi, DTFF Vice Chair, said: “As a Festival committed to promoting cultural understanding and appreciation through cinema, we are excited to open with Mira’s latest creative work that will connect with our audiences, is topically relevant and complements our mandate to support meaningful cinema. “Films are a medium to bring together diverse views to promote the spirit of dialogue and discussion. DTFF provides a platform to support the development of a grassroots film culture in Qatar and will contribute to shaping a vibrant film industry in the region.” Renowned filmmaker, Mira Nair has over 25 films to her credit, winning her numerous laurels in the global film circuit including Monsoon Wedding, Salaam Bombay, The Namesake, Amelia, Vanity Fair, and Mississippi Masala, among others. DFI has been collaborating with Mira Nair on her educational initiative, ‘Maisha Film Lab,’ which was established to foster East African, South Asian, and Arab filmmaking. In 2011, six Qatari students were selected to represent Qatar in two screenwriting and filmmaking workshops. The Festival, scheduled to be held from November 17 to 24, 2012, will also shine the spotlight on Algeria to celebrate its 50 years of independence. DTFF 2012 will pay tribute to the country’s rich, cinematic history and its contribution to the evolving MENA film landscape, through a compelling showcase of classic and new-age Algerian films. The 2012 edition of the Festival has been expanded to eight days to provide Festival audiences a more comprehensive and enriching cultural experience with new screening venues in Doha. Indoor and outdoor screenings will also take place at Katara Cultural Village and Museum of Islamic Arts (MIA).