• Festival to host 4 World Premieres and 49 Middle East and North Africa Premieres
• Programme includes 24 DFI supported films and 48 by women filmmakers
• Latest works by award-winning filmmakers Steven Soderbergh, Jim Sheridan, Kaouther Ben Hania among others

Doha, Qatar; November 5, 2025: Doha Film Institute (DFI) today unveiled the full programme of Doha Film Festival 2025 (DFF), featuring 97 thought-provoking films from 62 countries and a wide range of creative community events to be held at iconic locations across Doha turning the capital into a vibrant cultural hub from November 20 to 28, 2025.

With prizes totalling over USD $300,000, DFF features four main competition sections, special screenings, music performances, Geekdom and other community initiatives. The festival’s original theme song is composed by Qatar's celebrated contemporary composer and songwriter Dana Al Fardan, in collaboration with Katara Studios and Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, capturing the rhythm, emotion, and heartbeat of Doha.

At the official press conference held today, the Institute announced an exciting programme that focuses on bold storytelling and bringing underrepresented cinematic voices from around the world to the forefront.

Addressing the media, Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Festival Director and CEO of DFI said: “At the heart of Doha Film Festival is connection, from spontaneous conversations to the emotions we share, and the ways cinema reminds us of our humanity. For the past 15 years DFI has taken great pride in the extraordinary accomplishments of the filmmakers whose journeys we have shared so far. This year’s Doha Film Festival reflects Qatar’s growing creative ambitions and our deep belief in the power of cinema to unite and inspire. With 97 films from 62 countries, the programme amplifies voices that too often go unheard, offering audiences new perspectives and shared human experiences.

“This year also marks a milestone in Qatar’s broader cultural journey. Evolution Nation, an 18-month campaign honouring 50 years of our first national museum, is a powerful reminder of our creative progress. From preserving our heritage to reimagining our future, our nation continues to lead as a beacon of cultural expression and artistic innovation, where creativity thrives, and our stories are shared with the world.”

Opening Film
The festival will open with The Voice of Hind Rajab by Kaouther Ben Hania, marking a powerful start to Qatar’s spotlight of global cinema. A recipient of the Institute’s grants programme, the film highlights the power of storytelling to illuminate truth and resist oppression.

International Feature Film Competition
DFF’s International Feature Film Competition has 13 compelling films, with 12 having their Middle East and North African premieres in Doha including festival favourites The Presidents Cake; Once Upon a Time in Gaza; Khartoum and Divine Comedy among others. DFI Programmer and filmmaker Majid Al Remaihi said: “The Competition brings together bold films from the Arab world and beyond, from stories that dare to imagine and question to ones that mirror realities far and near— cementing our commitment to amplifying the most promising cinematic voices in the world today.”

International Short Film Competition
DFF’s International Short Film Competition features 20 films selected from a record 1,600 submissions worldwide, with 19 Middle East and North African premieres. Aya Al-Blouchi, film programmer at DFI said: “The programme unites filmmakers from across the globe in the language of film who are skillfully expressing the immediacy and imagination of their ideas.” The selection includes Palme D’or winner I’m Glad You’re Dead Now; Beneath Which Rivers Flow; L’mina and Samba Infinito, among many others.

Ajyal Film Competition
Ajyal Film Competition continues the proud legacy of Ajyal by empowering a youth jury to select winners for Best Feature Film and Best Short Film categories from a programme of five feature films and 11 short films. Rawda Al-Thani, DFI film programmer and director, said: "Ajyal Film Competition is where DFI’s mission truly comes to life – encouraging youth between the ages of 16-25 to think, feel, and act through cinema. It places young audiences at the forefront and reminds us of their boundless potential to shape the world and their future.”

Special Guests
The festival will welcome several special guests this year including filmmakers, artists and activists- whose work has inspired audiences all over the world. They include: Steven Soderbergh, Ramy Youssef, Michaela Coel, Engin Altan Duzyatan, Hazal Kaya, Jassim Al Nabhan; Dorra Zarrouk, Saleh Bakri, Hiam Abbas among others.

Special Screenings
DFF 2025 will feature several special screenings underpinning the themes of courage, creativity and artistic integrity, including Re-Creation by Jim Sheridan; Steven Soderbergh’s The Christophers; Shoot the People by Andy-Mundy Castle; My Story by Yasser Ashour; a special invitation only screening of Palestine 36 by Annemarie Jacir and the World Premiere of Qatari feature film Sa3oud Wainah by Mohammed Al-Ibrahim produced by Katara Studios.

Made in Qatar
The ‘Made in Qatar’ programme honours the creativity, authenticity and growing confidence of the voices shaping the cinematic landscape of Qatar. Featuring ten short films, the programme is a platform for homegrown talent to share their unique perspectives and innovative storytelling. This year’s Made in Qatar Jury led by Afef Ben Mahmoud includes Fahad Al-Kuwari and Alaa Alasad.

Family-Friendly Programme and Inclusive Screening
This year’s festival shares the joy of film with audiences of all ages through its family-friendly screenings programme. Storytelling meets Doha’s night sky to create unforgettable moments at the Cinema Under the Stars programme at MIA and Cinema by the Sea in West Bay. The Inclusive Screening of Sudan, Remember Us by Hind Meddeb, in partnership with College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Hamad bin Khalifa University, will ensure that people of all abilities can experience the limitless power of cinema.

Year of Culture Screening
A special programme of short films honouring the Qatar–Argentina–Chile 2025 Year of Culture will highlight the extraordinary range of artistic expression, reminding us that culture is a bridge that connects people, ideas, and hearts across continents.

DFF Music
The festival’s dynamic music programme of live performances and discussions feature today’s most exciting regional and global artists through three distinctive strands – Roots, Headliners and Scoring, deepening audience appreciation for sound and its role and influence on storytelling. Participating artists using their craft to express truth, emotion and resilience include Saint Levant; Yasiin Bey; Elyanna; Gustavo Santaolalla; Zeyne; Nooriyah; Nemahsis; Aisha Al Zaiani; Dana Al Meer and many more.

DFF Talks
DFF’s Talks programme will feature remarkable voices including journalist Mehdi Hassan; activists Rahma Zein and Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, artists Yasiin Bey; Dana Al Fardan; Khalid Albaih; industry experts Sylvia Zakhary and Ahmed Al Baker among others.

Geekdom
DFI’s CAO and Geekdom Founder Abdulla Al Mosallam announced the 12th edition of Geekdom, running from 18-22 November, said, “What started as a home for storytellers, gamers, and innovators has evolved into a thriving movement — a place where ideas meet opportunity, and where creators learn that imagination is truly limitless”. Some key highlights include E-sports tournaments, live gaming challenges, film screenings, music performances, Talks and panels.

Key Partners of Doha Film Festival include Katara, Media City Qatar I Film Committee and Visit Qatar. The festival will be hosted across several venues including Katara Cultural Village, Msheireb Downtown Doha, Lusail Boulevard and the Museum of Islamic Art. For more information, visit www.dohafilm.com.