Doha Film Festival 2025 reveals 97 films from 62 countries

 Film Institute (DFI) has officially unveiled the full programme for the Doha Film Festival 2025 (DFF), announcing a rich and diverse line-up of 97 thought-provoking films from 62 countries, along with a wide range of cultural and community events that will transform Doha into a vibrant hub of creativity from November 20 to 28, 2025. With prizes exceeding USD 300,000, the festival will present four competition sections, special screenings, music performances, Geekdom events and several public initiatives. This year’s festival theme song, composed by renowned Qatari composer Dana Al Fardan in collaboration with Katara Studios and the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, captures the rhythm, emotion and heartbeat of Doha’s cultural identity.

Speaking at the press conference, Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Festival Director and CEO of DFI, emphasised the festival’s mission of amplifying bold voices and connecting global audiences through cinema. She noted that Doha Film Festival has always been rooted in the spirit of human connection, inspiring conversations that unite communities and reminding us of the shared emotions that define our humanity. Alremaihi highlighted that for over 15 years, DFI has proudly supported the journeys of filmmakers whose works continue to inspire and influence audiences around the world. She added that the 2025 edition reflects Qatar’s growing cultural ambitions and its belief in the power of cinema to unite and inspire. With 97 films representing 62 nations, the festival aims to amplify often unheard voices and offer audiences meaningful new perspectives and shared human experiences. She further noted that this year’s festival aligns with “Evolution Nation,” an 18-month cultural initiative celebrating 50 years since the opening of Qatar’s first national museum, marking the country’s ongoing commitment to cultural innovation, heritage preservation and artistic expression.

Opening Film

The festival will open with The Voice of Hind Rajabby by Kaouther Ben Hania, a DFI-supported production that sets the tone for the festival with its powerful reflection on storytelling as a tool of truth and resistance.

The International Feature Film Competition will present 13 compelling works, with 12 having their Middle East and North Africa premiere in Doha, including anticipated titles such as The Presidents Cake, Once Upon a Time in Gaza, Khartoum and Divine Comedy. DFI Programmer and filmmaker Majid Al Remaihi stated that this competitive selection brings together daring cinematic voices from across the Arab region and beyond, presenting films that challenge, question and reflect complex realities, while reaffirming DFF’s commitment to supporting some of the most promising filmmakers in global cinema today.

International Short Film Competition

The International Short Film Competition features 20 films selected from a record 1,600 global submissions, including 19 regional premieres and notable award-winning titles such as the Palme d’Or winner I’m Glad You’re Dead Now, alongside Beneath Which Rivers Flow, L’mina and Samba Infinito. Film programmer Aya Al-Blouchi described the programme as a gathering of global storytellers who use the short form to convey immediacy, imagination and artistic vision.

The Ajyal Film Competition returns as part of the festival’s youth-focused programming, maintaining the long-standing legacy of empowering a young jury aged 16 to 25 to select the festival’s Best Feature and Best Short Film winners from a selection of five feature and 11 short films. DFI film programmer and director Rawda Al-Thani said the Ajyal competition embodies the heart of DFI’s mission, encouraging young people to engage critically and emotionally with cinema, and reminding audiences of the influential role of youth in shaping the future.

DFF 2025 will also welcome a number of distinguished international guests whose work has influenced cinema and culture worldwide. Among this year’s attendees are Steven Soderbergh, Ramy Youssef, Michaela Coel, Engin Altan Duzyatan, Hazal Kaya, Jassim Al Nabhan, Dorra Zarrouk, Saleh Bakri and Hiam Abbas. Special screenings throughout the festival will showcase cinematic works that champion courage, creative integrity and artistic innovation, including Jim Sheridan’s Re-Creation, Steven Soderbergh’s The Christophers, Shoot the People by Andy-Mundy Castle, My Story by Yasser Ashour, an invitation-only screening of Palestine 36 by Annemarie Jacir, and the world premiere of the Qatari feature film Sa3oud Wainah by Mohammed Al-Ibrahim, produced by Katara Studios.

The “Made in Qatar” segment continues to spotlight the evolving landscape of Qatari cinema, presenting 10 short films that reflect the authenticity, creativity and growing confidence of local talent. This year’s jury is led by Afef Ben Mahmoud, alongside Fahad al Kuwari and Alaa Alasad. The festival will embrace family audiences with its family-friendly screenings across the city, including the much-loved Cinema Under the Stars at the Museum of Islamic Art and Cinema by the Sea in West Bay. An inclusive screening of Sudan, Remember Us by Hind Meddeb, presented in partnership with the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, will ensure that audiences of all abilities can experience the magic of cinema. DFF will also host a special screening programme dedicated to the Qatar–Argentina–Chile 2025 Year of Culture, celebrating artistic diversity and cultural exchange across continents.

Music will play a central role in this year’s festival, with a dynamic schedule of performances and discussions featuring regional and international artists, offering audiences a deeper appreciation of the role of music in cinematic storytelling. DFF Talks will feature influential voices from media, activism, arts and film, including journalist Mehdi Hassan, activists Rahma Zein and Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, artists Yasiin Bey and Dana Al Fardan, as well as industry figures Khalid Albaih, Sylvia Zakhary and Ahmed Al Baker. In addition, the 12th edition of Geekdom, founded by DFI’s CAO Abdulla Al Mosallam, will run from November 18 to 22 and continue its growth as a cultural phenomenon and creative movement for storytellers, gamers and innovators, with e-sports tournaments, gaming events, screenings, live music and industry panels.

Key partners supporting the Doha Film Festival include Katara, Media City Qatar I Film Committee and Visit Qatar, with screenings and events taking place across several major cultural venues including Katara Cultural Village.