And honestly, from the DFI, I would expect nothing less!
There are few cultural organizations that put their proverbial “money where their mouths are,” when it comes to Palestinian cinema. The Doha Film Institute is one of those unique cultural bodies that do, time and time again. Down to their choice of Artistic Advisor, the great Palestinian auteur Elia Suleiman. If you’ve ever watched his films, you know what I mean. And if you haven’t, you need to immediately correct that.
So when they sent out a press release, earlier this week, stating that the “Doha Film Institute affirms its unwavering commitment to empowering important Arab voices by bringing urgent stories from Palestine to the forefront during its upcoming Doha Film Festival,” I knew it wasn’t just a typical case of MENA press-release syndrome. Yes, I get a lot of press releases from cultural entities in the Arab world. But from DFI, you can expect things done.
“At a time when Palestinian lives and histories are under siege, the festival offers its screens as a space for memory, dignity, and hope,” the release reads and continues, “it presents a diverse selection of powerful works that embody the human spirit of Palestine, which the world cannot afford to ignore.”
Included in the program are the acclaimed opening film The Voice of Hind Rajab by Kaouther Ben Hania, which was announced earlier; Kamal Aljafari’s deeply personal With Hassan in Gaza; the evocative Once Upon a Time in Gaza by Arab and Tarzan Nasser which premiere in Cannes earlier this year; and a special screening of Annemarie Jacir’s Palestine 36, a landmark work that demonstrates the depth of Palestinian cinematic storytelling and its vital place in the global cultural landscape.
“In supporting these films, we pay tribute to the courage of their creators and stand with Palestine, ensuring their stories are seen, heard, and remembered.”
“These films are not just stories on screen, they are urgent testaments of truth, survival and resistance and are voices of a people who refuse to be silenced,” said Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Festival Director and Chief Executive Officer of Doha Film Institute. “They carry with them the memories, the pain and the enduring hopes of Palestinians, refusing erasure and demanding recognition. In supporting these films, we pay tribute to the courage of their creators and stand with Palestine, ensuring their stories are seen, heard, and remembered. At Doha Film Festival, we are honored to provide a platform where these voices are amplified to echo across the world and inspire change.”
Following in the footsteps of the already established Ajyal Youth Film Festival, the Doha Film Festival, or DFF for short, will incorporate the young audiences focus of Ajyal with a grownup feel. And definitely grown up themes, like the genocide ongoing in Gaza.
Taking place from 20–28 November 2025, DFF represents the bold next chapter in Doha Film Institute's mission to nurture regional talent and champion urgent and authentic stories in cinema.
The festival will transform iconic locations across Doha, including Katara Cultural Village, Msheireb Downtown Doha, and the Museum of Islamic Art, into vibrant hubs of cultural exchange, bringing together filmmakers, storytellers, and audiences from every corner of the globe, to reaffirm art’s power to inspire, to unite, and to spotlight voices that deepen our shared understanding.
For more information, and to book tickets, check out the Doha Film Institute website.
All images used with permission