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Doha Film Institute (DFI) has opened the Doha Film Festival (DFF) 2025 with the acclaimed film *The Voice of Hind Rajab by award-winning filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, setting a powerful tone for Qatar’s bold showcase of global cinema.During the opening ceremony DFI chairperosn Her Excellency Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani presented acclaimed actors Jamal Soliman and Golshifteh Farahani with the DFF 2025 Creative Excellence Award for their outstanding artistic contribution to storytelling.Other dignitaries attending the opening night ceremony included His Excellency Sheikh Thani bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, chairman of Qatar Fund for Development; His Excellency Sheikh Hassan bin Mohammad bin Ali al-Thani, president of the Arab Museum of Modern Art, Qatar Museums; Her Excellency Lolwah bint Rashid bin Mohammed al-Khater, Minister of Education and Higher Education; His Excellency Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kuwari, Minister of State and president of Qatar National Library; His Excellency Hassan al-Thawadi, managing director, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy; His Excellency Saad al-Kharji, chairman of Qatar Tourism and chairperson of Visit Qatar, among other dignitaries.Joining them on the red carpet were members of the opening film’s creative team and special guests, including director Ben Hania; producers Nadim Cheikhrouha and Odessa Rae; actors Saja Kilani, Amer Hlehel, Motaz Malhees and Clara Khoury; Hind Rajab’s mother Wissem Hamada and representatives of the Palestine Red Crescent Society led by its president Dr Younis al-Khatib and director general Khaled Abu Ghoush. Also included were Nisreen Jiries Eid Qawas, Rana H I Faqih, Omar Ahmed Mohammed Alqam, Mahdi M N Jamal, Nibal Farsakh and Mohammad Ayyad, who were portrayed in the film.Addressing the opening ceremony, festival director and DFI CEO Fatma Hassan Alremaihi said: “This is a milestone year for DFI - 15 years of commitment to a vision that has now become a reality.DFI is more than an institution shaping the global film industry, it is a promise that every voice matters and that art will always have a home in Qatar. “DFI has established the golden age of Arab cinema as an essential chapter in the world’s collective story, where long-term commitment meets long-term impact.As we turn a new page with Doha Film Festival, we are poised and ready to write the next chapters of our journey to build a global community coming together in dialogue to shape a shared future rooted in purpose and possibility.” Other special guests included creative luminaries and global change makers including Jim Sheridan, Mohammed Al Ibrahim Kamal Aljafari, Elia Sulieman, Yasmine Hamdan, Brigitte Lacombe, Rithy Panh, Dhafer L’abidine, Dana Al Fardan, Mehdi Hasan, Elyanna, Dana Al Meer, Akira Yamaoka, Dorra Zarouk, Engin Altan Duzyatan, Rahma Zein, Ayca Aysin Turan, Jassim Al Nabhan among others.With prizes totalling over $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 AlFardan, in collaboration with Katara Studios and Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, capturing the rhythm, emotion, and heartbeat of Doha.Key Partners of Doha Film Festival include Katara, Film Committee at Media City Qatar and Visit Qatar. The festival will transform iconic locations across Doha, including Katara Cultural Village, Msheireb Downtown Doha, and the Museum of Islamic Art, into vibrant hubs of cultural exchange, bringing together filmmakers, storytellers, and audiences from every corner of the globe, to reaffirm art's power.

Doha Film Festival (DFF) 2025 opens Thursday, ushering in a week that highlights the power of storytelling, cultural exchange, and artistic courage.This year's festival begins with the deeply moving and urgent film The Voice of Hind Rajab, a powerful testament to human resilience by award-winning filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania. Its selection as the opening film reflects the Institute's continued commitment to elevating voices that illuminate truth and inspire empathy.Over the festival, audiences can look forward to a dynamic lineup of world premieres, regional debuts, talks and discussions, industry sessions, youth programmes, music performances, Geekdom and other community initiatives across Doha.With prizes totalling over USD 300,000, DFF 2025 features four main competition sections; International Feature Film Competition, International Short Film Competition, Made in Qatar Competition and the Ajyal Film Competition for youth aged 16-25.Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Festival Director and CEO of DFI said, "For the past 15 years DFI has taken great pride in the accomplishments of extraordinary filmmakers whose journeys we have shared so far. As we begin this new chapter for Doha Film Institute, we continue to amplify voices that speak to our shared humanity and challenge us to see the world with greater compassion."Doha Film Festival is a platform for purpose-driven storytelling that is redefining the global film landscape with depth, nuance, and truth. The festival will offer a vibrant meeting point for film lovers to honour creativity, engage in meaningful dialogue, and discover stories that bring us closer together."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, Mo Amer, Jamal Soliman, Golshifteh Farahani, Elia Suleiman, Engin Altan Duzyatan, Jassim Al Nabhan, Dorra Zarrouk, Saleh Bakri, Hiam Abbas, Mehdi Hasan, Rahma Zeina, Jim Sheridan, yasiin bey, Saint Levant, Annemarie Jacir, Misan Harriman among others.Taking place from Nov. 20-28, 2025, Doha Film Festival (DFF) marks the bold next chapter in Doha Film Institute's mission to nurture regional talent and champion urgent and authentic stories in cinema.Key Partners of Doha Film Festival include Katara, Film Committee at Media City Qatar and Visit Qatar. The festival will transform iconic locations across Doha, including Katara Cultural Village, Msheireb Downtown Doha, and the Museum of Islamic Art, into vibrant hubs of cultural exchange, bringing together filmmakers, storytellers, and audiences from every corner of the globe, to reaffirm art's power.