Ministry of Culture announces launch of ‘Doha Award for Drama Writing’

DOHA: The Ministry of Culture and Sports has announced the launch of “Doha Award for Drama Writing”, as an annual prize that was created by the Ministry in accordance with the decision of the Minister of Culture and Sports No 58 of 2019.

It will be awarded to television and film drama writers (Qataris and non-Qataris ) with a view to enhancing their role in their mission towards their societies by contributing to the development of drama writing as a tool for raising awareness of human issues and as a source of drama that elevates the soul and elevates aesthetic taste.

This was announced during a press conference held yesterday at Qatar National Theatre.

The award includes theatrical, television and film drama totalling $300,000, distributed equally as follows: $100,000 for theatrical text, $100,000 for TV scenario and $100,000 for film scenario.

In his speech, Minister of Culture and Sports H E Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali stressed that Arab world and its talented people need a suitable environment that embraces their creativity and develops their talents. In turn, the Ministry of Culture and Sports saw an urgent need for such an award which seeks to give the Arab talents an opportunity to show their creativity. 

The Minister thanked the Board of Trustees of the Award under the chairmanship of Dr Marzouq Bashir and with the membership of a selected group of critics and intellectuals for their efforts in approving the award, setting conditions and criteria for it and selecting an appropriate jury with transparency and best international practices.

The Board of Trustees of the Award recommended several general conditions, notably the applicant being Qatari or other Arabic speaking talents, accepting the participation in the classical Arabic language, and the language of dialogue in the local dialects. The candidate’s text contributes to the enhancement of human dignity and supports the values of dialogue in society.

Entries for the award can be submitted from May until the end of September. The results will be announced in November every year. The Organising Committee of the Award has launched a public website to educate the aspirants about the general and special conditions of the award and to allow submission of the work via electronic forms though www.dohadramaaward.qa.