With prizes totalling over $300,000, DFF features four main competition sections, special screenings, music performances, Geekdom and other community initiatives.
The Doha Film Festival opened with The Voice of Hind Rajab by Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania, setting an impactful tone for Doha Film Institute’s new global showcase of cinema. The premiere marked the beginning of a festival dedicated to bold storytelling and international artistic exchange.
During the ceremony, H.E. Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of the Doha Film Institute, honoured actors Jamal Soliman and Golshifteh Farahani with the DFF 2025 Creative Excellence Award in recognition of their significant contributions to the art of storytelling.
The opening night drew prominent dignitaries, including H.E. Sheikh Thani bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairman of Qatar Fund for Development; H.E. Sheikh Hassan bin Mohammad bin Ali Al Thani, President of the Arab Museum of Modern Art; H.E. Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater, Minister of Education and Higher Education; H.E. Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, Minister of State and President of Qatar National Library; H.E. Hassan Al Thawadi, Managing Director of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy; and H.E. Saad Al Kharji, Chairman of Qatar Tourism.
Members of the film’s creative team joined the red carpet alongside director Kaouther Ben Hania; producers Nadim Cheikhrouha and Odessa Rae; cast members Saja Kilani, Amer Hlehel, Motaz Malhees and Clara Khoury; Hind Rajab’s mother Wissem Hamada; and representatives from the Palestine Red Crescent Society, including its President Dr. Younis Al-Khatib and Director General Khaled Abu Ghoush, many of whom are portrayed in the film.
The event also welcomed a wide range of distinguished international guests, from filmmakers and musicians to cultural icons and changemakers. Among them were Jim Sheridan, Mohammed Al Ibrahim, Kamal Aljafari, Elia Suleiman, Yasmine Hamdan, Brigitte Lacombe, Rithy Panh, Dhafer L’Abidine, Dana Al Fardan, Mehdi Hasan, Elyanna, Dorra Zarouk, Engin Altan Duzyatan, Akira Yamaoka, Rahma Zein, Ayça Ayşin Turan and Jassim Al Nabhan.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Festival Director and CEO of DFI, said: “This is a milestone year for Doha Film Institute – 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.”
With more than $300,000 in prizes, the festival features four main competition sections, special screenings, live music, Geekdom programming and additional community-driven events. The official festival theme song—composed by Qatari musician Dana Al Fardan in collaboration with Katara Studios and the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra—captures the festival’s spirit and artistic energy.
Supported by key partners including Katara, the Film Committee at Media City Qatar, and Visit Qatar, the Doha Film Festival will activate major cultural landmarks such as Katara Cultural Village, Msheireb Downtown Doha, and the Museum of Islamic Art. These venues will become centres of cinematic celebration, welcoming filmmakers, creators, and audiences from around the world to honour the transformative power of art.
