Featuring music and films from the country in turmoil, the line up for the event held by the Doha Film Institute, highlights the creativity and rich heritage of a nation whose stories continue to inspire the world.
At the recent Venice Film Festival, Qatari homegrown talent Suzannah Mirghani’s debut feature Cotton Queen won my heart. Last year, Hind Meddeb’s Sudan, Remember Us, a sublimely powerful documentary, kicked off the Ajyal Film Festival in Doha. Qatar is a land where the forgotten stories are told, and told in style.
So this year’s inaugural Doha Film Festival, which aims to turn up the volume on its already successful Ajyal Youth Film Festival formula by including the “adults” at the table, is focusing on two lands in turmoil — Palestine and Sudan.
As previously announced, the festival will open with Tunisian Oscar-nominated filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania’s The Voice of Hind Rajab, a docudrama focusing on one of Gaza’s youngest martyrs. It will also feature a curated program of Palestinian artists, both on the big screen and in live performances.
With its latest announcement, a focus on Sudanese film and music was revealed, featuring not only Cotton Queen, in it’s MENA premiere, but also Khartoum, a documentary which brings together filmmakers Anas Saeed, Rawia Alhag, Ibrahim Snoopy Ahmad, Timeea Mohamed Ahmed and Philip Cox to tell a story of survival and a quest for freedom through the dreams of five Khartoum residents displaced by the war.
Complementing the film screenings, 'Sounds of Sudan' will feature performances by an exceptional lineup of artists including rapper Oddisee, soul artist Gaidaa, multi-instrumentalist artist Sammany Hajo and DJ NEDZ, representing the diverse range of contemporary Sudanese music.
Oddisee (born Amir Mohamed el Khalifa) is known for his sharp lyricism, soulful production, and socially conscious perspective. Blending boom-bap foundations with live instrumentation, jazz, funk, and soul, he has carved a distinctive space in hip-hop. Gaidaa is a Sudanese-Dutch singer, songwriter, and artist known for her warm, soul-infused sound and emotionally rich storytelling. Sammany Hajo, based in Qatar, remixes traditional songs with contemporary genres like Soul, Funk and Hip Hop, and DJ NEDZ is a self-taught, multi-genre DJ and creator with a distinctive style that reflects her Egyptian roots and global journey.
Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Festival Director and Chief Executive Officer of Doha Film Institute, said: "The strong presence of Sudanese film and music at DFF 2025 underlines our commitment to bringing important narratives and amplifying crucial voices from the Global South. While the powerful films open a window to the vibrant and complex stories of Sudan, the music celebrates the resilience and creativity of its people. By including these diverse artistic expressions in the festival, we are creating safe spaces for meaningful dialogue and cultural exchange that transcends geographies and challenges prevailing narratives."
Taking place from 20–28 November 2025, the Doha Film Festival (DFF) represents the bold next chapter in the Doha Film Institute's mission to nurture regional talent and champion urgent and authentic stories in cinema.
Images used with permission.