VC Doha x Al Jazeera English: Documenting Our Planet

The Video Consortium presents: VC x Al Jazeera English - Climate Crisis Screenings & Panel Discussion!

Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges of our time, affecting ecosystems, communities, and economies worldwide. As temperatures rise, extreme weather events become more frequent, and vulnerable populations face unprecedented hardships.

A two-part screening “Documenting our Planet” followed by a panel discussion in partnership with Al Jazeera English will illuminate these everyday realities of the climate crisis.

Hosted at West Bay Beach and in collaboration with TrueNorth Qatar, you are invited to join us on 7 February from 5:30pm to 9:30pm for an evening under the stars to watch these ground-breaking films and hear from the storytellers who produce these short documentaries.

There will also be an opportunity for your questions and for networking. 

Admission is free, but please secure your ticket via the VC platform for entry. Each attendee must present their VC ticket at the entrance.

We’ll be screening:

Life Before Land: Bangladesh’s Disappearing Shorelines, Dying Earth (25 minutes) | 

Al Jazeera English

A film by Fátima Lianes.

Bangladesh is a country severely affected by man-made climate change. Located at the foot of the Himalayas and facing an open delta, it is increasingly battered by devastating typhoons and severe flooding.

‘Life Before Land’ explores how this Southeast Asian nation has developed sophisticated storm prediction systems and a shelter network that saves thousands of lives from frequent typhoons. Still, the land is being swallowed up by ever-rising water levels. Entire communities are disappearing, leaving behind staggering numbers of climate migrants.

Fátima Lianes is an international award-winning Spanish film director and producer of both documentary and fiction, and the founder of the production company Wild Mind. She is known for series Dying Earth, The 8 from Iraq, Democracy Maybe, Spain, or The Young Pope and films Thou Shalt not K*ll and In a Day.

Dystopia of Seoul: What happens when AI-generated music meets climate change? (25 minutes) | Al Jazeera English 

A film by Sung Joo, Kang Mina and Ann Seo Hee. 

Antonio Vivaldi published The Four Seasons in 1723, celebrating the natural world and the four distinct seasons. But what would this music sound like today in our age of climate crisis? The Uncertain Four Seasons global project uses climate modelling data to generate a 2050 version of The Four Seasons for orchestras around the world according to their climate projections.

Dystopia of Seoul is the story of this piece of AI music in the South Korean capital which suffered devastating floods in 2022. The melodies, energy and tempo are twisted by the sophisticated algorithm to reflect Seoul’s climate predictions. The result makes for disturbing listening and is another stark warning to humanity about climate change.

Mina Kang is the co-producer and co-director of Dystopia of Seoul, which won Best Documentary the Covering Climate Now (CCNOW) Awards in 2023.

Mina has been reporting and producing content on the climate crisis in South Korea for several years and always thinking about how to effectively communicate the huge human challenge of the climate crisis to the public.

Mina believes that optimism rather than pessimism can change the world. Face the problem, identify the causes, find solutions and inspire.

After the screening, we will have an insightful discussion with:

• Farid Barsoum, Al Jazeera English Executive Producer, ‘Life Before Land’
• Fátima Lianes, Film Director, ‘Life Before Land’
• Andrew Whitman, Al Jazeera English Executive Producer, ‘Dystopia of Seoul’
• Kang Mina, Film Director, ‘Dystopia of Seoul’ 

Programme:

• Doors open at 5:30pm
• Screening and Panel Discussion: 6pm - 8pm
• Networking and snacks: 8pm - 9pm

Food and drinks will be available. And don’t forget to dress warmly!

We’re looking forward to seeing you.

Host or Publisher The Video Consortium