The Challenge (2016) Apr 2026

Rather than using a scripted narrative, Ancarani spent three years researching this world to create an "anthropology of a contemporary desert". The film serves as a portrait of a specific state of consciousness—one where gold-plated Harleys, prayer mats, and ancient hunting rituals coexist in a boundless, exclusively male landscape.

The story of the film , directed by Italian artist Yuri Ancarani , is a surreal, largely wordless observation of a weekend in the Qatari desert. It focuses on the world of wealthy Qatari sheikhs who maintain an ancient tradition of amateur falconry amidst extreme modern luxury. A Weekend in the Desert The Challenge (2016)

: Beyond falconry, the weekend is filled with games of speed and spectacle. SUVs race up massive sand dunes, while a pet cheetah rides in the passenger seat of a Lamborghini roaring across the sand. Rather than using a scripted narrative, Ancarani spent

The film follows a group of men as they travel from their urban lifestyles into the glaring light of the desert landscape for a falconry tournament. The "story" is told through a series of striking, high-definition images that highlight the intersection of 4,000-year-old traditions and hyper-modern technology: It focuses on the world of wealthy Qatari