The Doha Film Institute (DFI) is set to elevate its role in the global film industry with the launch of the inaugural Doha Film Festival (DFF), running from November 20-28 in the Qatari capital. Spearheaded by DFI CEO Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, who also serves as the festival’s artistic director, the DFF marks a significant transformation of the existing Ajyal Film Festival for youth audiences into a more ambitious international event aimed at a broader demographic. This initiative underscores Qatar’s strategic diversification from the energy sector into cultural and media industries, building on its success with ventures like Al Jazeera and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

A core tenet of the DFF is its strong regional component and a deliberate accent on the Palestinian plight. The festival will open with Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania’s politically charged drama, “The Voice of Hind Rajab.” This powerful film tells the true story of a 5-year-old Palestinian girl tragically caught in an attack by Israeli forces in Gaza. Ben Hania's work has garnered significant attention, including a record-breaking 20-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival, and is Tunisia's official submission for the International Feature at the Academy Awards. The DFF's choice to open with this film is an intentional statement, as Alremaihi emphasizes DFI's longstanding commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices and bringing truthful narratives to global audiences. Ben Hania herself noted the special significance of the film launching in Doha, especially after its de facto Middle East premiere at the Gaza International Festival for Women’s Cinema held amidst rubble in Deir Al-Balah.

The DFF program is extensive, featuring 97 films from 62 countries. Approximately half of these are cherry-picked regional premieres of titles that have already made their mark at leading international festivals. The festival will also host four significant world premieres: the Qatari thriller “Sa3oud Wainah” by Mohammed Al-Ibrahim, produced by Katara Studios; “My Story,” a documentary about Syrian actor Jamal Soliman by Egyptian director Yasser Ashour; “When the Camera Froze” by Palestinian artist and war photographer Belal Khaled; and “Abu Jabal” by Palestinian director Bisan Owda. These premieres signify the festival’s growing reputation as a crucial platform for discovery and dialogue, fostering a safe and supportive environment for filmmakers from the Arab world to share their bold ideas globally. Other notable films focusing on Palestine include competition entries “Once Upon a Time in Gaza” by Tarzan and Arab Nasser, and Kamal Aljafari’s documentary “With Hasan in Gaza.” The competition strand also highlights films like Iraqi filmmaker Hasan Hadi’s “The President’s Cake” (Iraq’s Oscar submission), “Khartoum,” a potent documentary about the Sudanese conflict, and Iranian director Ali Asgari’s “Divine Comedy.” Special screenings include Steven Soderbergh’s black comedy “The Christophers” with director and star Michaela Coel in attendance, Jim Sheridan’s “Re-Creation,” and Andy Mundy-Castle’s “Shoot the People.” The festival will also welcome prominent figures such as Oscar-winner Rami Malek, Turkish TV talents Engin Altan Duzyatan and Hazal Kaya, Tunisian/Egyptian multi-hyphenate Dorra Zarrouk, and Palestinian stars Saleh Bakri and Hiam Abbass.

Beyond its cinematic offerings, the DFF aims to bolster Qatar’s position in the film, TV, and media sector through its industry component, DFF Talks. This includes the Industry Days program, presented by the Film Committee at Media City Qatar. This platform builds directly on DFI’s 15-year mission of nurturing talent and connecting local and regional voices with international experts, reinforcing Qatar’s role as a dynamic hub for storytelling. The industry events are designed to facilitate co-productions, sales, and distribution deals, fostering a sustainable ecosystem for film, TV, and emerging media, and turning creative ambition into lasting industry impact. Panel discussions will feature notable figures such as former MSNBC broadcast journalist Mehdi Hassan, Egyptian journalist Rahma Zein, and Emmy-nominated journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin. While DFF does not have a structured market (that role is filled by DFI’s unique incubator event, Qumra), its industry program is robust, with a total prize pot exceeding $300,000, placing it on par with other major regional festivals like Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Film festival.

A unique aspect of the DFF is its intentional overlap with Geekdom, Qatar’s largest pop culture event, which encompasses E-sports tournaments, anime, cosplaying, live gaming, and various performances. This synergy expands the festival's understanding of storytelling, acknowledging the deep connection between cinema and popular culture. Both events share a spirit of imagination, creativity, and community, celebrating diverse forms of expression that unite people, whether on the big screen or in a virtual world. This approach reflects the belief that creativity transcends medium, connecting individuals through shared passions. The DFI's unwavering commitment to championing underrepresented voices and fostering cultural exchange through cinema positions the Doha Film Festival as a crucial and ambitious new event on the global film calendar, poised to strengthen Qatar’s cultural soft power and amplify diverse narratives worldwide.