Doha: The Doha Film Institute (DFI) has announced that the Doha Film Festival (DFF) will be held from November 20-28. This celebration of world cinema underscores the Institute's commitment to supporting influential voices and authentic cinematic narratives that address important topics, highlighting underrepresented cinematic voices from the Global South and around the world. The announcement was made during the 78th Cannes Film Festival which marks the 15th anniversary of Doha Film Institute.
According to Qatar News Agency, the festival will also feature industry sessions, community screenings with a special programme for youth, and a range of engaging events, transforming Doha into a vital global meeting point for filmmakers, thought leaders, artists, and audiences passionate about thought-provoking cinema.
With a total prize money of over QR 1 million, DFF will feature a dynamic official selection of films in four competition strands: International Feature Film Competition, showcasing new works by emerging and established filmmakers worldwide; International Short Film Competition, highlighting innovative storytelling in a concise format; Ajyal Film Competition, judged by the festival's unique youth jury that offers fresh generational perspectives; and the Made in Qatar Competition, dedicated to celebrating the creativity and talent of filmmakers based in Qatar.
CEO of Doha Film Institute and Festival Director Fatma Hassan Alremaihi stated, "Doha Film Festival is not only a celebration of cinema, but a platform for purpose-driven storytelling amplifying important voices that are redefining the global film landscape with depth, nuance, and truth."
In this context, DFF will retain popular elements of Ajyal while introducing new dimensions and represents the next step in Qatar's journey of cultural leadership, creating opportunities for cultural exchange and dialogue to benefit the global film community.
Selected films will span a wide range of genres and themes, unified by a shared commitment to authenticity, artistic vision, and cultural relevance. Each competition will present awards recognizing excellence in filmmaking and provide meaningful support through funding and international exposure.
At the heart of the festival are four main competition sections, each with distinguished international juries. The International Feature Film Competition jury will consist of five industry experts selecting winners in various categories, including Best Narrative and Best Documentary.
In the International Short Film Competition, a three-member jury will judge films for awards such as Best Film - Narrative or Documentary and Best Director.
The Made in Qatar Competition will celebrate talent based in Qatar with awards reinforcing DFI's commitment to celebrating homegrown storytellers.
Continuing the proud legacy of Ajyal, the Ajyal Film Competition with a youth jury aged 16-25 will have an important presence at the Doha Film Festival.
Doha Film Festival will transform iconic locations across Doha into dedicated festival venues, with Katara Cultural Village hosting red carpet events and Msheireb Downtown Doha serving as the central hub for industry sessions. The Museum of Islamic Art will provide an intimate setting for short film screenings.
The complete festival programme, jury members, and competition titles will be announced in the coming months.