The list for the upcoming edition also includes César and Academy Award nominated DoP Darius Khondji, and Hong Kong filmmaker Johnnie To Kei-Fung.
Doha Film Institute has announced the five renowned global film luminaries who will be the Qumra Masters of its eleventh annual industry event, set to run from April 4-9, 2025.
Qumra is always a place for a weary world cinema writer to regroup and refresh. It comes at the beginning of a cycle of festivals which kick off in May with Cannes, followed by the summer festivals, including Venice, and a flurry of activity for awards voters in the fall. Yet it is at Qumra that I often find the enthusiasm needed to go on. Among the up and coming filmmakers, who by April will have heard if they are in the lineup of the festival on the Croisette or perhaps on a wait-list for the Lido, I rediscover the reason I began writing about film in the first place. It is a magical world this one, filled with souls who believe that art can change one’s life. And often does. It definitely changed mine.
A groundbreaking talent incubator in the Arab world that drives the success of first and second-time filmmakers from the region and beyond, Qumra connects emerging filmmakers with celebrated cinematic masters and provides invaluable industry networking and collaboration opportunities.
With a wealth of diverse perspectives from across the global film community, Qumra Masters provide participants with one-on-one mentorship to equip filmmakers with essential tools to hone their craft and refine their projects to realise their artistic visions.
This year the Masters, who are involved in a wondrous series of public conversations and then meet with the filmmakers who have projects included in one-on-one sessions to mentor them and uplift them, are pretty wondrous. What is already great, from looking at the list, is the fact that they are so diverse, and include a possible Oscar winner, from this year! Fingers crossed and I won’t say his or her name, just in case.
Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Chief Executive Officer of the Doha Film Institute said: “We are truly honoured to welcome some of the world’s most celebrated creatives Lav Diaz, Darius Khondji, Walter Salles, Anna Terrazas and Johnnie To as Qumra Masters, joining the legacy of iconic storytellers who have supported us on our mission to empower important voices in film. Their artistry, innovation, and commitment to storytelling have left an indelible mark on world cinema. By sharing their knowledge and experience with our Qumra participants, they will inspire a new generation to refine their craft, and tell bold enduring stories that will shape the future of cinema.”
This year’s Qumra Masters Lav Diaz, Darius Khondji, Walter Salles, Anna Terrazas and Johnnie To will share the visionary perspectives they have gained throughout their luminous careers and inspire the next wave of creators who will shape the trajectory of cinema.
Just as there is slow fashion, there is also such a thing as slow cinema and Lav Diaz is its pioneer, though lately a lot of filmmakers have made their oeuvre longer and longer. Diaz’s work includes The Woman Who Left and Evolution of a Filipino Family and he is renowned for his profound explorations of the human condition and the struggles of his homeland in his signature black-and-white frames.
Darius Khondji’s (Amour, The Immigrant) innate ability to blend light, shadow, and composition has firmly established him as one of contemporary cinema’s most revered visual storytellers. The Iranian-French DoP was recently awarded the prestigious Pierre Angénieux Tribute at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022.
Walter Salles is the wondrous Brazilian filmmaker behind such gems as The Motorcycle Diaries, Central Station and the multi-award nominated 2024 film I’m Still Here. Salles is one of filmmaking's most compelling storytellers who often explores themes of displacement, memory, and identity with his signature sense of humanity.
Anna Terrazas is a fashion treasure, with films like Roma and Spectre in her extensive resume. Her work blends cultural authenticity and creative innovation by bringing together local artisans and top filmmakers, and Terrazas stands out as one of the most dynamic costume designers of her generation.
And last, but not least, is celebrated genre-defying filmmaker Johnnie To whose work, such as Exiled and Election proves him a master of gripping narratives in his collaborative approach to deep explorations of loyalty, fate, and morality.
Elia Suleiman, Artistic Advisor at Doha Film Institute, said: “Cinema is not just the stories we tell, but the silences in between—the spaces where meaning lingers. At Qumra, these silences resonate loudly, where emerging voices are amplified by the wisdom of the Qumra Masters. It is a place of transformation, where the future of film is not dictated, but discovered."
So, yet another great Qumra to come, mark my words.
Images courtesy of the DFI, used with permission.