The inaugural edition of festival showcased 97 films from 62 countries, screened across four competitive sections as well as a gala strand.
The Doha Film Festival, presented by the Doha Film Institute, concluded with the announcement of its 2025 competition winners following a week filled with film screenings, discussions and cultural events. The closing ceremony, hosted by Sudanese filmmaker and presenter Amjad Al Noor alongside Syrian-American comedian Nasser Al-Rayes, brought together acclaimed filmmakers, industry experts and cultural figures from around the world, including Saleh Bakri, Kamal AlJafari, Saja Kilani, Misan Harriman, Elia Suleiman, Brigitte Lacombe, Rithy Panh and Dhafer L’Abidine.
In the International Feature Film Competition, The Reserve by Pablo Pérez Lombardini received a Special Mention. The Best Performance Award was jointly presented to Majd Eid and Nader Abd Alhay for Once Upon a Time in Gaza. Best Artistic Achievement was shared by Kamal Al Jafari for With Hasan in Gaza and Chie Hayakawa for Renoir. Jihan’s My Father and Qaddafi won Best Documentary, while Guillermo Galoe’s Sleepless City earned Best Narrative.
The jury for this category was led by filmmaker Rithy Panh, joined by director and screenwriter Raja Amari, actor and filmmaker Dhafer L’Abidine, photographer Brigitte Lacombe and Alessandra Speciale, Founder and Curator of Final Cut Venice.
In the International Short Film Competition, Randa Maaroufi’s L’Mina received a Special Mention, while Ammar Ahmed earned a Special Mention for Performance in Zizou. Milica Janevski won Best Performance for Upon Sunrise. Aria Sánchez and Marina Meira received Best Director for Primary Education and Samba Infinito by Leonardo Martinelli was named Best Film. The jury was overseen by industry professional Eddie Bertozzi and included filmmakers Faris Alrjoob and Zoljargal Purevdash.
The Made in Qatar Competition awarded a Special Mention to Project Aisha by Fahad Al-Nahdi. Rashid Al Sheeb won the Abdulaziz Jassim Award for Performance for Fahad the Furious, while Eiman Mirghani was named Best Director for Villa 187. The Best Film award went to Fahad the Furious by Justin Kramer. The jury featured actress, director and producer Afef Ben Mahmoud, Katara Studios’ Head of Development Fahad Al-Kuwari and producer-distributor Alaa Alasad.
In the Ajyal Film Competition, The Voice of Hind Rajab by Kaouther Ben Hania won Best Feature, and Sulaimani by Vinnie Ann Bose was awarded Best Short. The winners in this category were selected by a global youth jury aged 16–25. The Audience Award went to Cotton Queen by Suzannah Mirghani.
This year’s festival showcased 97 films from 62 countries and hosted a diverse programme of community-driven events, including music performances, special screenings, Geekdom activities and other creative initiatives. Key partners included Katara, Media City Qatar | Film Committee and Visit Qatar. Screenings and events were held across several venues, including Katara Cultural Village, Msheireb Downtown Doha, Lusail Boulevard and the Museum of Islamic Art.
Addressing the ceremony, Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Festival Director and CEO of DFI, said: “As we close the curtain on this edition of Doha Film Festival, we reaffirm Qatar’s enduring commitment to championing new voices and bold storytelling. This festival is a promise that creativity will always have a space, that diverse voices will always be heard, and that Qatar will continue to open its doors to artists shaping a connected and compassionate world. Every story shared here has reminded us that film is one of humanity’s greatest bridges connecting us beyond borders, backgrounds and differences to push our collective vision forward.”
