Latest news with #DohaFilmFestival
Qatar Tribune
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Qatar Tribune
DFI unveils programme for Doha Film Festival
Tribune News Network Cannes (France)/Doha (Qatar) Doha Film Institute (DFI) has announced the programming and awards sections for the upcoming Doha Film Festival (DFF), reaffirming its commitment to fostering bold, original storytelling and spotlighting underrepresented cinematic voices and diverse perspectives from around the world. The announcement was made during the 78th Cannes Film Festival which marks the 15th anniversary of Doha Film Institute, first announced in Cannes in 2010 by DFI Chair HE Sheikha Al Mayassa. With a total prize money of over $300,000, DFF will feature a dynamic official selection of films in four competition strands: International Feature Film Competition, showcasing powerful new works by emerging and established filmmakers from around the world; International Short Film Competition, highlighting innovative storytelling in a concise format; Ajyal Film Competition, judged by the festival's unique youth jury that offer fresh, generational perspectives; and the Made in Qatar Competition, dedicated to celebrating the creativity and talent of filmmakers based in Qatar. Running from November 20-28, 2025, 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. Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, chief executive officer of Doha Film Institute and festival director, said: '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.' 'It is the next chapter in our continued mission to nurture independent filmmakers, inspire new perspectives and foster cultural dialogue through cinema. The festival will offer a vibrant meeting point for film lovers, a stage for powerful stories and a launchpad for a new generation of cinematic talent. DFF is an expansion of the strong foundation we built with Ajyal Film Festival as a unique platform for self-expression and creative empowerment, and we look forward to guests celebrating the unifying power of film with us in Doha this November.' she added. 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 that recognize 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 Best Narrative (with a prize money of US$75,000), Best Documentary (US$50,000), Best Artistic Achievement for feature narrative or documentary (US$45,000), and Best Performance (US$15,000) categories. A certificate of Special Mention will also be presented to a feature narrative or documentary. In the International Short Film Competition, judged by a three-member jury, films will compete for Best Film – Narrative or Documentary (US$20,000), Best Director (US$12,000), and Best Performance (US$7,000). Made in Qatar Competition will celebrate talent based in Qatar with awards for Best Short – Narrative or Documentary (US$15,000), Best Director (US$10,000) and Best Performance (US$5,000) reinforcing DFI's commitment to celebrating homegrown storytellers. Continuing the proud legacy and tradition of Ajyal, Ajyal Film Competition with a youth jury aged 16-25 will have an important presence at Doha Film Festival presenting awards for Best Feature – Narrative or Documentary (US$35,000) and Best Short – Narrative or Documentary (US$12,000). An Audience Award will also be presented during the festival with the winner receiving a certificate and trophy. Doha Film Festival will transform iconic locations across Doha into dedicated festival venues. Katara Cultural Village will host red carpet events and premieres, while Msheireb Downtown Doha will become the central hub for industry sessions and special events. The Museum of Islamic Art will present an intimate setting for short film screenings. The complete festival programme, jury members and competition titles will be announced in the coming months. For more information about Doha Film Festival, visit and
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Doha Film Institute Launches Ambitious International Festival for Indie Cinema With $300,000 in Prizes
The Doha Film Institute has unveiled the shape of its upcoming Doha Film Festival, which looks poised to become a prominent event dedicated to auteur cinema from around the world in the Middle East and North Africa region. The fest transforms the DFI's existing Ajyal Film Festival dedicated to youth and family-friendly cinema into a more ambitious international event for a broader audience. It will have four competition strands: international feature film competition; short film competition; the Ajyal film competition, judged by the festival's unique youth jury; and the Made in Qatar competition, dedicated to projects made in Qatar, regardless of the director's provenance. More from Variety Searchlight Pictures Buys Alexander Payne's Next Film 'Somewhere Out There' for Worldwide Rights (EXCLUSIVE) Charlotte Gainsbourg Says 'I Don't Need to See My Movies Anymore' and Fighting for Acting Roles Is Better Than Getting Offers: 'You Feel Like You Own It' Dogma 25 Explodes at Cannes, Spearheaded by New Quintet Led by May el-Toukhy: 'A Rescue Mission and a Cultural Uprising' The reconfigured event is being endowed with a total prize pot of over $300,000 that places it on a monetary par with Saudi Arabia's more glitzy Red Sea Film festival in Jeddah. In the international sphere, the top prizes to be dished out will be best narrative, worth $75,000; documentary, worth $50,000; artistic achievement, worth $45,000; and the gender-neutral performance acting award, worth $15,000. The Doha Film Festival will run Nov. 20-28, a slot that adds to the already crowded Arab film festival calendar during that period. The Cairo fest runs Nov. 12-21, the Marrakech fest runs Nov. 28-Dec. 6 and Red Sea's fifth edition is set for Dec. 4-13. The announcement of the revamped festival, made at Cannes, comes on the 15th anniversary of the Doha Film Institute, which was first announced in Cannes in 2010 by Qatar's cultural leader Sheikha Al Mayassa, the DFI's founder and chairperson. 'We've had a huge collective experience,' Doha Film Institute CEO Fatma Hassan Alremaihi told Variety. 'We laid a lot of the groundwork and did a lot of the heavy lifting to create this industry in Qatar. Now we have a bigger movement for the film industry with Media City Qatar and Katara Studios, with different productions happening, either locally or internationally. 'The opportunities in Qatar now are huge,' Alremaihi continued, 'and we want to expose these opportunities to people from around the world who come to Doha.' Films will be selected by the DFI's in-house programming team led by Alremaihi. The Doha Film Festival will not have a structured market. The DFI already has a unique event called Qumra, an incubator and co-production market that helps foster first and second works, mostly by Arab directors. Qumra, which was conceived by the DFI following the failure of the Tribeca Doha Film Festival, which ran from 2009 until 2012, recently held its 11th edition. Qumra mentors this year included Johnnie To, Walter Salles and Darius Khondji. Lack of a structured market does not mean the Doha Film Festival will not have an industry aspect. 'There are so many markets around the world, I don't think another one is needed,' Alremaihi said. 'But organically there will be a market for opportunities and partnerships and deals that can happen during the festival and year-round,' she added, noting that other elements of the festival will be announced later 'that will be attended by a lot of industry [executives]. 'This is going to be an ongoing project' said the DFI's artistic advisor Palestinian auteur Elia Suleiman, who noted that the event will have a similar spirit to Qumra and has no desire to compete with the other fest's in the Arab world, at least not in terms of glitz and glamour. 'It's an event for the filmmakers. Ultimately, they are at the root and center of the DFI program,' said Hanaa Issaa, who oversees the institute's film funding programs and funding initiatives. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
India.com
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Qatar's princess only follows this Bollywood actress on social media, it's not Aishwarya Rai, Katrina Kaif, Alia Bhatt, Priyanka, Deepika, Madhuri Dixit, name is…
Qatar Princess Al-Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani is one of the popular names in the royal family of Qatar. She is the daughter of the former Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and the sister of the current Emir, Sheikh Tamim. Sheikh Al-Mayassa is followed by many users on Instagram. She has a strong fan following. One thing to notice in this is that she follows only one Bollywood celebrity. It is neither Shah Rukh Khan nor Salman Khan. Let us tell you which actress is followed by the princess of Qatar. Sheikha Al-Mayassa follows only one Bollywood actress on Instagram. She is neither Aishwarya Rai nor Priyanka Chopra. The one the Qatari princess likes is Mallika Sherawat. If you look at the users followed by Sheikha Al-Mayassa on Instagram, you will see Mallika Sherawat's name. Mallika Sherawat got fame in the industry with the film Murder in 2004. She is a name who has gained a lot of love outside the country as well. Even today she is remembered as one of the most glamorous actresses. Now some people will ask why the princess of Qatar follows Mallika Sherawat. So a report by Filmibeat tells that she met her in the US many years ago. Then both the celebrities were invited to a conference. And since then, both of them are together. Not only this, Mallika Sherawat is the only Bollywood name who had attended the wedding of the princess in the year 2006. Then in the year 2010, she also attended the Doha Film Festival in Cannes, France. Sheikha Al-Mayassa completed her studies from Duke University in 2005. Then the following year she married her second cousin Sheikh Jassim bin Abdulaziz Al Thani in Doha. The couple has five children – four sons and a daughter.
