The inaugural edition of the Doha Film Festival is set to bring together a remarkable lineup of 97 films from 62 countries, alongside an impressive roster of international and regional guests, when it takes place from November 20 to 28 in the Qatari capital.
Renowned filmmaker Steven Soderbergh, Egyptian-American comedian Ramy Youssef, and British-Ghanaian actress Michaela Coel are among the festival’s high-profile attendees. Soderbergh and Coel will participate in a special screening of “Christopher’s”, acquired by Neon, which had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Other highlights in the Special Screenings section include “Recreation” by Jim Sheridan, “Shoot the People” by Andy Mundy-Castle, “My Story” by Yasser Ashour, “Palestine 36” by Annemarie Jacir, and the world premiere of “Saud Wainah”, a Qatari feature by Mohammed Al Ibrahim, produced by Katara Studios.
Notable guests also include Turkish stars Engin Altan Düzyatan and Hazal Kaya, veteran Kuwaiti actor Jassim Al Nabhan, and Egyptian-Tunisian actress Dorra Zarrouk, along with Palestinian actors Saleh Bakri and Hiam Abbass, who both appear in Palestine 36.
The festival’s international competition, which carries a total prize pool exceeding USD 300,000, will feature 13 global titles such as “Once Upon a Time in Gaza,” “The President’s Cake,” and “The Cotton Queen.”
Organized by the Doha Film Institute (DFI), the festival expands on DFI’s long-running Ajyal program, which has celebrated youth and family cinema for over a decade. Events will take place across several iconic venues in Doha, including Katara Cultural Village, Msheireb Downtown Doha, and the Museum of Islamic Art.
The opening film, “The Voice of Hind Rajab” by Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, will premiere on November 20. The powerful drama, supported by a DFI grant, depicts the tragic killing of a young Palestinian girl by Israeli forces in Gaza in early 2024.
Beyond screenings, the festival will feature a robust talks program with prominent voices such as journalist Mehdi Hasan, Egyptian reporter and activist Rahma Zein, Emmy-nominated journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, artists Yasiin Bey, Dana Al Fardan, and Khalid Albaih, as well as industry experts Sylvia Zakharri and Ahmed Al Baker, among others.
Fatma Hassan Al Remaihi, CEO of the Doha Film Institute and Festival Director, said:
“Connection lies at the heart of the Doha Film Festival — from spontaneous conversations to shared emotions, and the ways cinema reminds us of our common humanity.”
She added that over the past 15 years, the Doha Film Institute has proudly supported filmmakers across the globe, and that this year’s edition reflects “Qatar’s growing creative ambitions and unwavering belief in cinema’s power to unite and inspire.”
The festival will also host a Short Film Competition featuring 20 titles from the Middle East and North Africa, including award-winning shorts such as “I’m Glad You’re Dead Now,” “Under Which River Flows,” “Lamina,” and “Samba Infinito.”
In the spirit of the Ajyal festival, a youth jury aged between 16 and 25 will judge entries in the Ajyal Film Competition, selecting winners for Best Feature Film and Best Short Film from a lineup of five feature films and eleven shorts.
Family-friendly open-air screenings and a special presentation of “Sudan, Remember Us” by Hind Meddeb will also be part of the program.
Parallel to the festival, a music showcase will feature performances by Saint Levant, Yasiin Bey, Elyanna, Gustavo Santaolalla, Zeyn, Nouria, Namchiss, Aisha Al Zayani, and Dana Almeer.
In addition, the 12th edition of Geekdom Qatar, the nation’s premier event for eSports and digital creativity, will be held concurrently with the Doha Film Festival 2025.
TunisianMonitorOnline (Douha Essaafi)
