By Kate Rodger
This is Qatar, capital Doha, population 1.7 million, and perched on the edge of the Persian Gulf.
It has twice the landmass of Auckland, but a touch more wealth. Qatar has the third highest oil and gas reserves in the world.
It's a long way from the East Coast, Taika Waititi's home territory, and the setting for Boy.
But the two very different worlds came together at the Doha film festival.
“It feels good to represent NZ, and represent the kind of films that I make. I have a particular voice and point of view, from NZ,” says Waititi.
The filmmaker fronted for one of the many film masterclasses held at the festival, and was also the key note speaker for a ted.com online film forum simulcast around the world.
One of the things which really stood out for here is the emphasis on family. Children taught about film, and how to tell their own stories through film..
Family Day was the biggest day here, and while Spiderman was popular for some, others were more excited about the haka.
Boy premiered for Qatari audiences on the festival's ginormous outdoor screen and got a very special introduction.
With Boy still charming audiences round the world, even in the desert, from here Waititi's set to be seen by even bigger audiences in blockbuster The Green Lantern.
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