Doha Film Institute (DFI) underlined the impact of Doha Film Festival (DFF) on audiences, artists and the industry, and announced ambitions for 2026 through stronger collaboration, wider reach, and more opportunities for emerging talent from Qatar and the region.
In a press statement, festival director and DFI CEO Fatma Hassan Alremaihi said: “DFF builds on our 15-year legacy of nurturing talent and fostering cultural dialogue while bringing fresh perspectives and opportunities and represents the next step in Qatar's journey of cultural leadership.
“We are not here to compete but contribute by creating opportunities that will benefit not just our region but the entire global film community. Our unique strengths lie in our legacy of amplifying Arab voices, our deep community roots, and our unwavering focus on authentic storytelling, and we will continue to focus on our strengths.”, she added.
Noting that collaboration remains central to DFI’s strategy, Alremaihi said: “We collaborate with other festivals to expand opportunities for filmmakers to reach more screens, more audiences and more partners. Recent announcements, such as the Film Committee’s collaboration with Cairo Film Festival, reflect a complementary approach that serves the wider creative community.”
DFF’s community-centric programming also reached new heights. Geekdom welcomed over 7,000 visitors, underscoring the Institute’s commitment to communities across film, gaming, comics, design and music.
“We are focused on strengthening relationships with content creators, game developers, illustrators, writers and expanding workshops year-round,” said DFI’s Chief Administrative Officer, Abdulla Jassim al-Mosallam.
Programming at DFF 2025 balanced cinematic innovation with audience connection, said filmmaker and DFI programmer Majid al-Remaihi. He added that Ajyal’s impact continues year-round through Ajyal Film Club, school initiatives, and Ajyal Film Competition at DFF, ensuring young voices remain central to the Institute’s mission.