Doha Film Institute
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Brother and sister Abdulla (8) and Hessa (13) are transported to a mythical world, embarking on a deadly quest to find three magic pearls that will allow them to return home before being stranded forever.
On Garangao Night, a magical Ramadan celebration, sceptical Hessa (13) and her imaginative brother Abdulla (8) hear their grandmother’s tale of stolen pearls and sea monsters. Forced to chaperone Abdulla during the festivities, Hessa fails to defend him from ridicule, and he runs into an old curiosity shop. A mysterious shopkeeper pushes them through a glowing door into Bidarya, a fantastical realm of pearl forests and sky seas.

Guided by bird-man Zeryab, the siblings meet Queen Jumana, a half-peacock ruler who claims her stolen magic pearl is the only way home. They agree to retrieve it from her sister, The Donkey Queen, embarking on a perilous voyage. The heist triggers chaos, separating the siblings and exposing a dangerous truth: Jumana once stole a pearl herself, and uniting all three could destroy Bidarya. As war erupts, Abdulla is drawn to Jumana’s false kindness while Hessa uncovers her deception. When Jumana seizes the pearls and transforms into a monstrous queen, the siblings reunite to confront her. By breaking the pearls’ power, they restore balance and open a portal home. Back in Qatar, Hessa proudly defends Abdulla, both forever changed by a journey that taught them the power of courage, trust, and family.

Credits

Director
Aisha Al-Jaidah, Kholoud Al-Ali
Screenwriter
Aisha Al-Jaidah, Kholoud Al-Ali
Producer
Ben Robinson, Stacey Eberschlag
Production Company
Blue Penguin

About the Director

Aisha Al-Jaidah
Aisha Al Jaidah is an animation writer, director & producer and founder of Blue Penguin Animation. Aisha graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Illustration and Animation from Kingston University, London, in 2009. Her career began at Al Jazeera Children’s Channel as a Motion Graphics Artist, quickly progressing to Senior Animation Producer. Aisha created Qatar’s first animated children’s seri
Kholoud Al Ali
Kholoud Al Ali is an award-winning Qatari animation writer and director. She studied Art Education at Qatar University and later worked at Al-Jazeera Children’s Channel, writing and directing the children’s series ‘My Little World’, as well as many episodes and songs for various children’s TV programmes. Kholoud has directed two short films with DFI: ‘Red’ (2017) and ‘Fragile’ (2019). Kholoud is t
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