Doha Film Institute
Made in Qatar presented by Occidental Petroleum Film Programme II
Once again, the Ajyal Youth Film Festival is pleased to celebrate the exciting state of filmmaking at home with our annual slate of work made right here in Qatar. This year, we present two programmes of shorts, including narratives, documentaries and thoughtful essays.
In a blissful alternate universe, a society of children lives according to strict rules, and deviation from the norm means eternal banishment.
With ‘Our Time Is Running Out’, director Meriem Mesraoua creates a compelling and disturbingly blissful alternate universe in which a society of children lives according to strict and absolute rules. Every day, there are lessons and tasks – and every day, there is trepidation, for any deviation from the norm means eternal banishment. When one youngster wakes to find himself changed, he makes a desperate attempt to cling to the familiar. Time and life, however, march inexorably forward.

Credits

Director
Meriem Mesraoua
Screenwriter
Dana Atrach, Meriem Mesraoua
Producer
Nadine Toukan
Cinematographer
Ghassan Nazmi
Editor
Abdul Jabbar Maki
Production Company
Doha Film Institute
Production Designer
Rand Abdul Nour
Sound
Falah Hannoun
Cast
Kareem Abu Roza, Laila Kabesh, Omar Abdel Majid, Zakaria Al Arab, Joseph Asmar, Salma Abdalla

About the Director

Meriem Mesraoua
Meriem Mesraoua's work explores issues of identity and power dynamics. In 2020, her short film 'Under Her Skin' premiered at the Venice Film Festival. Meriem is currently developing her first feature film.<br />