Boasting upcoming titles in development from filmmakers like Ismaël El Iraki, Dima Hamdan and Hinde Boujemaa, plus those in post-production ranging from the MENA region to world cinema hailing from Hong Kong, Cameroon, Chile and Iran, the Doha Film Institute confirms its place as the best place for films and auteurs to meet, and find their well-deserved support.
Read MoreClockwise from left: Raja Amari, Dhafer L’Abidine, Rithy Panh, Alessandra Speciale
Doha Film Festival announces stellar world cinema personalities for their Competition Jury
Included are frequent DFI collaborator Rithy Panh and Tunisian star Dhafer L’Abidine.
Read MoreA still from ‘The Reserve’ by Pablo Pérez Lombardini courtesy of © Pikila
World cinema projects from Mexico's 'The Reserve' to Spain's 'Sleepless City' and Japan's ‘Renoir’ in Competition at inaugural Doha Film Festival
Doha Film Festival will showcase a remarkable selection of acclaimed titles from across the world as part of its International Feature Film Competition, reflecting the festival’s commitment to cinematic excellence and cultural diversity, bringing together powerful stories that resonate across borders.
Read MoreA still from ‘Khartoum’, a documentary which will screen at the Doha Film Festival later this November
Sudan in focus at the upcoming inaugural Doha Film Festival in Qatar
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.
Read MoreA still from ‘Once Upon a Time in Gaza’ by Tarzan and Arab Nasser, courtesy of DFI
Upcoming inaugural Doha Film Festival to showcase Palestinian stories
And honestly, from the DFI, I would expect nothing less!
Read MoreBrad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix produced 'The Voice of Hind Rajab' to open inaugural Doha Film Festival
Tunisian Oscar nominated filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania’s Venice Silver Lion winner is “a moving tribute to resilience and the power of cinema”.
Read MoreGeorge Clooney in ‘Jay Kelly’ by Noah Baumbach, photo courtesy of Netflix
The Venice Diaries: A Saudi wonder film, Variety's 2025 Achievement in International Film Award does it right plus films, stars & more stars
Among the highlights of the first few days of the Venice International Film Festival, a first appearance on the Lido by Julia Roberts and some well-deserved recognition for Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, the wondrous CEO of the Doha Film Institute.
Read MoreDFI supporting the Palestinian pavilion in Cannes this year, with Fatma Hasan Alremaihi, center, Elia Suleiman, third from left and Hanaa Issa, third from right.
Doha Film Institute proves once again the cinematic force to be reckoned with in Cannes
And with a new upcoming international film festival announced for November 2025, the Gulf cultural organization plans to prove to the world what many of us already knew.
Read MoreQumra 2025 projects include an outlaw Bedouin bandit couple adventure and a Palestinian dystopian sci-fi thriller
Also included in the extensive line up of projects participating in the upcoming industry incubator organized by the Doha Film Institute is the follow up by Algerian helmers Damien Ounouri and Adila Bendimerad to their award winning epic ‘The Last Queen’, as well as Suzannah Mirghani’s highly anticipated feature debut ‘Cotton Queen’.
Read MoreFatma Hassan Alremaihi and Her Excellency Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater surrounded by some of the Ajyal jurors
The Doha Ajyal Diaries: Opening night with a twist and the joy of unorthodox film choices
A documentary about the students’ movement in Sudan opened this year’s DFI Ajyal film festival. And the unusual, yet super welcomed refreshing choices didn’t stop there.
Read MoreA still from ‘Aïcha’ by Mehdi Barsaoui, courtesy of The Party Film Sales
More to love from the Doha Film Institute at this year's Venice Film Fest
This year there are 12 Doha Film Institute supported films in the lineup on the Lido, plus the DFI is hosting a special afternoon and even a gala dinner celebrating their achievements in the world of cinema and art.
Read MoreA still from ‘Salted Skins’ by Nicolas Fattouh, courtesy of the DFI
The Cannes Diaries: Doha Dreaming with multiple DFI projects in the Cannes Official line up & Spring 2024 upcoming grants
It’s all in a week’s work for the Doha Film Institute, the greatest cinematic organization in the MENA region.
Read MoreFatma Hassan Alremaihi at Qumra 2024, courtesy of the DFI
The Qumra Diaries: I've landed in a place of inspiration
It is always great to be in Doha for their annual industry meetings, yet this time it feels extra crucial and important — as cinema is what I turn to in order to heal and help understand the world around me.
Read MoreJim Sheridan, Leos Carax, Claire Denis and more at Qumra for this year's DFI industry meet up
Plus Atom Egoyan fresh from the Berlinale and Academy Award nominated sound designer Martín Hernández, all to give Masterclasses while in Qatar.
Read MoreA still from ‘Disco Afrika: A Malagasy Story’, courtesy of the filmmaker
Doha Film Institute Awards announces new grant recipients -- 44 diverse projects from 32 countries
The highly anticipated announcement confirms the DFI’s commitment as the region’s longest-serving film development initiative, as the Institute has supported more than 800 films from 74 countries to date.
Read MoreA still from ‘Mornings in Jenin’, a series project participating in this year’s Qumra event
The Doha Film Institute's Qumra 2021 goes global with its virtual edition
For film insiders the Qumra event — held once a year in Doha, Qatar and bringing together industry experts and filmmakers from all over the world — was always a highly anticipated time to put on our calendars. But in the age of pandemic, where we need all the inspiration we can get to simply continue onward, Qumra has become a lifeline.
Read MoreKatara Opera House on the opening night of Ajyal Film Festival in Doha, Qatar
Doha's Ajyal Film Festival Opening Night: We may be socially distanced but our cinematic hearts beat as one!
This year, the Doha Film Institute has managed to put together a hybrid online and in person (for Qatari residents only) version of its annual Ajyal Film Festival dedicated to young audience and there was even a red carpet last night and an opening ceremony. I’m sharing the video of the latter below.
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