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Qatar Tribune
12-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Qatar Tribune
Doha Film Institute marks record participation at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival with 12 supported films
Tribune News Network Doha Doha Film Institute (DFI) continues to cement its place as a driving force in global cinema, with a record 12 supported films selected for the 82nd Venice International Film Festival (August 27 – September 9, 2025). Representing bold, diverse, and urgent storytelling from the Arab world and beyond, the line-up spans the festival's most competitive and influential sections—including the Official Selection, Settimana della Critica (Critics' Week), Giornate degli Autori (Venice Days), Final Cut in Venice, and the Venice Production Bridge. The strong presence highlights DFI's unwavering commitment to championing authentic and powerful narratives that transcend borders, and to supporting independent filmmakers whose stories may otherwise go untold. From emerging voices to acclaimed auteurs, the selected films reflect the depth, diversity, and global relevance of DFI's growing portfolio. Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, chief executive officer of Doha Film Institute, said, 'This landmark presence of 12 DFI-supported films at Venice is a powerful testament to our mission of elevating compelling, courageous storytelling from voices that are too often unheard. These films carry the weight of truth, resilience, and vision—and they speak across borders, cultures, and perspectives. What makes this year's selection even more special is the inclusion of homegrown talent from Qatar, a proud reflection of the creative excellence emerging from our own community. Our role is not just to support filmmakers, but to champion stories that challenge, inspire, and ultimately expand the global cinematic conversation. This milestone reaffirms DFI's impact in shaping a more balanced and representative film landscape.' Official selection: In Competition for the Golden Lion is the World Premiere of The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia/France) by award-winning filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, that offers a searing portrayal of five-year-old Hind Rajab, killed by Israeli forces alongside her family. Screening 'Out of Competition' in the Non-Fiction category is My Father and Qaddafi (Libya/USA/Qatar) by Jihan K, is a deeply personal chronicling the filmmaker's journey to uncover the truth behind her father's disappearance during the Qaddafi regime. Giornate degli Autori (Venice Days): Memory (Russia/France/Netherlands/Qatar) by Vladlena Sandu is a cinematic reckoning with the traumas of the Chechen war, as the filmmaker reclaims her past through art. A Sad and Beautiful World (Lebanon/USA/Germany/KSA/Qatar) by Cyril Aris is a decades-spanning love story set against Beirut's shifting landscape of tragedy and resilience. Do You Love Me (Lebanon/France/Qatar) by Lana Daher, explores Lebanese identity through seven decades of pop culture, politics, and collective memory. Settimana della Critica (Critics' Week): Cotton Queen (Sudan/Germany/France/Palestine/Egypt/Qatar) by Suzannah Mirghani follows teenage Nafisa who becomes the centre of a power struggle over genetically modified seeds to determine the future of her village, blending ecological critique with coming-of-age drama. Roqia (Algeria/France/KSA/Qatar) by Yanis Koussim is set in 1993 and explores trauma and healing through a dual-timeline story of amnesia, exorcism, and generational fear. Final Cut in Venice: Two DFI backed projects screen as part of Venice's industry platform for films from Africa and select MENA regions in post-production: The Station [Al Mahatta] (Yemen/ Jordan/ France/ Germany/ Netherlands/ Norway/ Qatar) by Sara Ishaq is set in a women-only petrol station in war-torn Yemen, where three siblings confront impossible choices. Untitled Project from Yemen (Yemen/Norway/France/Qatar) by Mariam Al-Dhubhani is a raw documentary exploring survival, memory, and the fragility of home amid conflict. Venice Production Bridge: Three DFI-supported films are selected for this vital co-production and financing platform: Sound of Silence (Lebanon/France/Greece/UK/Qatar) by Joyce A. Nashawati is a chilling horror set in 1970s Greece, where two young women encounter a death cult while seeking refuge in a convent. Tarfaya (Morocco/France/Belgium/Qatar) by Sofia Alaoui is a sci-fi fable about an epidemic that causes people to fall into deep sleep, prompting a search for truth and human connection. The Missing Camel (Morocco/France/Senegal/Mauritania/Qatar) by Cheikh N'Diaye fuses folklore and politics in a man's quest to reclaim his royal lineage while confronting colonial legacies. With this bold and diverse selection, DFI not only marks a milestone in its Venice journey—it reiterates its global role as a catalyst for transformative cinema. By amplifying stories from regions often overlooked by mainstream media, the Institute continues to champion bold, resonant voices that redefine the global storytelling includes Golden Lion contender and multiple world premieres across the festival's most prestigious sections including projects by homegrown talents Suzanna Mirghani and Mariam Al-DhubhaniStrongest-ever DFI showing at Venice underscores its pivotal role in shaping global independent cinema
Qatar Tribune
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Qatar Tribune
Eight films supported by DFI selected for 78th Cannes Fest
Tribune News Network Doha Doha Film Institute (DFI) has announced that eight films supported through its grants programme have been selected for the 78th Cannes Film Festival, reaffirming the Institute's enduring commitment to nurturing bold, original voices in world cinema. Spanning a wide spectrum of genres, styles and cultural narratives, this year's selected films reflect the richness of global storytelling and underscore DFI's mission to champion compelling, underrepresented perspectives from the Arab world and beyond. The selected projects will be unveiled to global audiences across various sections of the festival, including the official programme with one in Official Selection Competition and three in Un Certain Regard. Four additional titles will screen across the parallel sections of Critics' Week (La Semaine de la Critique), Director's Fortnight (La Quinzaine des Cinéastes), and ACID, highlighting the artistic excellence and global relevance of the filmmakers. DFI's strong presence at Cannes 2025 builds on its legacy of empowering emerging talent and contributing meaningfully to the global film landscape. Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, chief executive officer of DFI, said: 'We are incredibly proud to attend the 78th edition of Cannes with another selection of outstanding films supported by the Institute. This recognition speaks to the power of authentic storytelling and the importance of amplifying diverse voices.' Official Selection Competition: 'Renoir' (Japan, France, Singapore, The Philippines, Indonesia, Qatar) by Chie Hayakawa. Official Selection Un Certain Regard: 'Aisha Can't Fly Away' (Egypt, Tunisia, KSA, Sudan, Germany, France, Qatar) by Morad Mostafa; 'Promised Sky' (Tunisia, France, Qatar) by Erige; and 'Once Upon a Time in Gaza' (Palestine, France, Germany, Portugal, Qatar) by Tarzan & Arab Nasser. Critics' Week (Semaine de la Critique): 'Sleepless City' (Spain, France, Qatar) by Guillermo García López; and 'L'Mina' (Morocco, France, Italy, Qatar) by Randa Maroufi. Director's Fortnight (Quinzaine des cinéastes)cTypeface:> 'The President's Cake' (Iraq, USA, Qatar) by Hasan Hadi. ACIDcTypeface:> 'Life After Siham' (Egypt, France, Qatar) by Namir Abdel Messeeh.
