Projects: Team Qatar

Team Qatar (2008)

Drive Thru Pictures
BBC Four "Storyville", UK (11th May 2009)
PBS "Global Voices", USA (August 2010)
Doha Tribecca Film Festival, USA (April 2009)
Wins Audience Award at Doho Tribeca Film Festival

Synopsis

Team Qatar follows the journey of five Middle Eastern teenagers into the world of competitive debating, coached by the charismatic ex-President of the Oxford Union. Well aware that their region is associated, in Western minds, with oil, money, and jihad, they are determined to show that they are not closed-minded extremists and just as importantly they are determined to win. They are charismatic, intelligent, global teens with strong views, immense curiosity, and boundless ambition, which – for ten intense weeks – they direct towards mastering the arcane strategies of British parliamentary debate. Quirky and endearing, entertaining and informative, this small story offers a window onto the rapidly growing global culture of the Arab world and its relation to the West.

Only 20% of Qatari residents are actually from Qatar, and the team reflects this: It is made up of Tina an Iranian girl who has lived in Canada and the USA, Vartan a Syrian-Armenian who has lived in Qatar most of his life, Fatima an energetic girl from Northern Iraq, Ayesha a bubbly, athletic tom-boy from Pakistan and finally Talal the sole Qatari national on the team. Will Team Qatar overcome their inexperience and hold their own against the sarcastic English, stylish Argentines, and ferocious Australians – all with years of practice reducing lesser teams to tears? How will they deal with America? What will they make of Team Israel? At stake in their minds is the chance to demonstrate their skills as modern, free-thinking Muslims to the rest of the world. Through this strange journey, the team offers a window onto a country that is increasingly taking a leading role in Middle Eastern diplomacy, economics, and politics. Team Qatar's greatest strength is the kids themselves. Charismatic, thoughtful, engaging young people unafraid to speak their minds, they will give pause to anyone with conventional stereotypes about the Arab world.

Team Qatar is an observational doc that plays with the conventions of the sports film, weaving interview bites, music-montages, and character portraits through the evolving and suspenseful story-line of the training and competition.

Credits

Directed & Produced by LIZ MERMIN
Produced by LAWRENCE ELMAN
Edited by JAKE ROBERTS
Director of Photography: LYNDA HALL
Consultant: ALI WILLIS
Sound: RUSSELL EDWARDS, MATT SUTTON
Associate Producer: RACHAEL SWINDALE
Original Music: NICK FYFFE
Production Manager: EMILY MURFIN
Graphics: NICK FREW
Assistant Editor: GIGI HSIN
Production Assistants: JOSH BLOOM, JULIAN MOLINA
Additional Sound: TED ROTH, MICHAEL BOYLE
Post Production Facility: V.E.T.
Audio Mixer: SRDJAN KURPJEL
Online Editor/Grader: CATHAL O. DONOGHUE
Executive Producer: ROO ROGERS
Distribution: DR International Sales

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