Northwestern University in Qatar presented accolades to talented local filmmakers as 25 high school students graduated from its two week Summer Media Institute on Thursday. Students learned from NU-Q alumni who shared insights into the technical and creative aspects of reporting and filmmaking, as well as life at the university and in the workplace.
Now in its fifth year, the institute provides students in Qatar with hands-on training in documentary filmmaking, emphasizing key techniques in cinematography, lighting and editing. Throughout the program, students interacted on a daily basis with NU-Q alumni, faculty and specialist staff to gain a thorough understanding of the local, regional and international media industries.
Maryam Al Muhannadi, a young Qatari Summer Media Institute graduate comments: “It’s been an amazing experience and I have met some fantastic people. I’ve enjoyed learning about filmmaking, especially angles and shots. This experience has helped me grow as a person as I’ve learnt the importance of patience and acceptance of other peers’ ideas. My ambition is to submit my own film later in the year at the Northwestern Film Festival and I am excited to apply to become a NU-Q student for next year’s intake.”
“We are proud to see this exceptional class graduate from this year’s Summer Media Institute Program. Their enthusiasm, capacity to learn and home-grown talent was an inspiration to their peers and instructors alike. NU-Q offers a range of unique education opportunities in communications, journalism, and liberal arts, giving students the skills they need to break into one of Qatar’s and the region’s most dynamic and rapidly expanding industries. We wish this year’s graduates luck in their bright futures.” said Everette E. Dennis, Dean and CEO of NU-Q.
NU-Q education programs help cultivate top talent from Qatar and the region. Recently, two NU-Q students, Shahnawaz Zali and Syed Owais Ali, received international recognition at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed University Film Festival and the Chicago South Asian Film Festival.
The Summer Media Institute is the first in a series of NU-Q events for the 2014-2015 school year aimed at high school students interested in communication and journalism. Future events include the Qatar Leadership Conference, which is held in collaboration with the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar and the THIMUN Qatar Northwestern Film Festival.
NU-Q will also be hosting a number of media workshops throughout the year encouraging students to explore the development of investigative reporting and digital media. Learn more >>
