"For a week we left behind our habits, family, friends and everyday life, and went on a journey which we trusted would be a great opportunity. Giffoni has opened the door to a new world". These are the emotionally charged voices of the five giffoners Luisa Fiore Annunziata, Pasquale Catino, Nicole Maria Rosaria Pagano, Marta Quarello and Valeria Visciani returning from the Ajyal Film Festival.

Film education and appreciation will once again take centre stage at this year’s Ajyal Youth Film Festival (December 1 – 6, 2014) where 450 young jurors from around the world will take part in the five-day youth jury programme – the Doha Film Experience.

The inaugural Ajyal Youth Film Festival, presented by the Doha Film Institute, concluded on Saturday night with the winners of the Doha Film Experience in-competition segments, chosen by hundreds of young jurors from ages 8 to 21, honoured at a closing ceremony. Abdulaziz Al-Khater, Chief Executive Officer of the Doha Film Institute, and Fatma Al Remaihi, Director of Ajyal Youth Film Festival, joined the jurors in presenting the prizes to the winners of the three categories in the Doha Film Experience.    Addressing the audience, Mr. Al-Khater said: “In our first edition, we hope that we have instilled and reinforced the love of cinema in many of you – young and young at heart. We also hope that we have ignited many interesting conversations, exchanges of ideas and point of views – amongst children, teens, and across generations. I congratulate the young jurors for their dedication and enthusiasm over the last five days in watching your films, discussing them and working hard to decide the winners.”   Al Remaihi added: “Ajyal has addressed a clear need in this part of the world in creating a platform for young audiences to discover new facets of cinema, engage in new types of conversations and expand their imagination. We will continue to build on the bonds that have been formed through the festival and support our youth and talent to pursue their dreams.”   Very glad also the artistic director of the Giffoni Experience, Claudio Gubitosi, and the President Pietro Rinaldi who followed the event throughout its duration. Enthusiastic also the Councillor for Culture of the Campania Region, Caterina Miraglia asked by the DFI to attend the event. ''It 's the first time that we export our know-how, an exclusive idea "- said Caterina Miraglia -." An extraordinary achievement, the result of a great job that ended with huge satisfaction for the region and for the Giffoni Experience''. The model of the film festival for young people, said Miraglia,'' was shot by the Government of Qatar where they preferred this format to the American school of cinema.''   The festival of Qatar, in fact, was made ​​looking to the Italian model of the Giffoni Film Festival collaborating with colleagues in the Middle East , bringing the experience of the festival for kids there that takes place every year in the small town in the province of Salerno. ''For three months - said the commissioner - a group of our delegates was there training on the model Giffoni ''. "What characterizes the Giffoni Film Festival is the extraordinary ability to focus attention on the boys .'' Especially shooting a western model of culture and growth for boys by a system different from ours .'' " The explanation ? The basic values ​​, when it comes to guys and cultural development , are the same.''   At Doha Giffoni has also led a group of jurors from Campania who, with the children of Qatar and other countries, have had the opportunity to see a number of films divided into four sections, followed by discussions with directors and actors. For the duration of the Festival, the youth participated in screenings, workshops and debates to promote the film and culture.   The winners of Ajyal Youth Film Festival are: Doha Film Experience Mohaq: Best Short Filmmaker – Little Kyota Neon Hood, directed by Satsuki Okawa Hilal: Best Short Filmmaker – The Invention, directed by Giovanni Granada Hilal: Best Feature Filmmaker – Regret, directed by David Schram Bader: Best Short Filmmaker – Men’s barber shop, directed by Meshal Alhulail Bader: Best Feature Filmmaker – The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete, directed by George Tillman Jr.   Made in Qatar Made in Qatar Award – My Hero, directed by Nora Al-Subai        

The inaugural Ajyal Youth Film Festival, presented by the Doha Film Institute, concluded on Saturday night with the winners of the Doha Film Experience in-competition segments, chosen by hundreds of young jurors from ages 8 to 21, honoured at a closing ceremony. Abdulaziz Al-Khater, Chief Executive Officer of the Doha Film Institute, and Fatma Al Remaihi, Director of Ajyal Youth Film Festival, joined the jurors in presenting the prizes to the winners of the three categories in the Doha Film Experience.    Addressing the audience, Mr. Al-Khater said: “In our first edition, we hope that we have instilled and reinforced the love of cinema in many of you – young and young at heart. We also hope that we have ignited many interesting conversations, exchanges of ideas and point of views – amongst children, teens, and across generations. I congratulate the young jurors for their dedication and enthusiasm over the last five days in watching your films, discussing them and working hard to decide the winners.”   Al Remaihi added: “Ajyal has addressed a clear need in this part of the world in creating a platform for young audiences to discover new facets of cinema, engage in new types of conversations and expand their imagination. We will continue to build on the bonds that have been formed through the festival and support our youth and talent to pursue their dreams.”   Very glad also the artistic director of the Giffoni Experience, Claudio Gubitosi, and the President Pietro Rinaldi who followed the event throughout its duration. Enthusiastic also the Councillor for Culture of the Campania Region, Caterina Miraglia asked by the DFI to attend the event. ''It 's the first time that we export our know-how, an exclusive idea "- said Caterina Miraglia -." An extraordinary achievement, the result of a great job that ended with huge satisfaction for the region and for the Giffoni Experience''. The model of the film festival for young people, said Miraglia,'' was shot by the Government of Qatar where they preferred this format to the American school of cinema.''   The festival of Qatar, in fact, was made ​​looking to the Italian model of the Giffoni Film Festival collaborating with colleagues in the Middle East , bringing the experience of the festival for kids there that takes place every year in the small town in the province of Salerno. ''For three months - said the commissioner - a group of our delegates was there training on the model Giffoni ''. "What characterizes the Giffoni Film Festival is the extraordinary ability to focus attention on the boys .'' Especially shooting a western model of culture and growth for boys by a system different from ours .'' " The explanation ? The basic values ​​, when it comes to guys and cultural development , are the same.''   At Doha Giffoni has also led a group of jurors from Campania who, with the children of Qatar and other countries, have had the opportunity to see a number of films divided into four sections, followed by discussions with directors and actors. For the duration of the Festival, the youth participated in screenings, workshops and debates to promote the film and culture.   The winners of Ajyal Youth Film Festival are: Doha Film Experience Mohaq: Best Short Filmmaker – Little Kyota Neon Hood, directed by Satsuki Okawa Hilal: Best Short Filmmaker – The Invention, directed by Giovanni Granada Hilal: Best Feature Filmmaker – Regret, directed by David Schram Bader: Best Short Filmmaker – Men’s barber shop, directed by Meshal Alhulail Bader: Best Feature Filmmaker – The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete, directed by George Tillman Jr.   Made in Qatar Made in Qatar Award – My Hero, directed by Nora Al-Subai        

Create the new poster of the 44th edition of the GFF.

While waiting for the program of the 44th edition to be held July 2014 from 18 to 27, the activities of Giffoni Experience continue. A rich autumn with national and international events is expected in the sign of continuity that has always characterized the work of Giffoni.