Doha, Qatar: Doha Film Institute (DFI) yesterday unveiled the full programme of Doha Film Festival 2025 (DFF), featuring 97 thought-provoking films from 62 countries and a wide range of creative community events to be held at iconic locations across Doha turning the capital into a vibrant cultural hub from November 20 to 28, 2025.
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 Al Fardan, in collaboration with Katara Studios and Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, capturing the rhythm, emotion, and heartbeat of Doha.
At the official press conference held today, the Institute announced an exciting programme that focuses on bold storytelling and bringing underrepresented cinematic voices from around the world to the forefront.
Addressing the media, Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Festival Director and CEO of DFI said: “At the heart of Doha Film Festival is connection, from spontaneous conversations to the emotions we share, and the ways cinema reminds us of our humanity. For the past 15 years DFI has taken great pride in the extraordinary accomplishments of the filmmakers whose journeys we have shared so far. This year’s Doha Film Festival reflects Qatar’s growing creative ambitions and our deep belief in the power of cinema to unite and inspire. With 97 films from 62 countries, the programme amplifies voices that too often go unheard, offering audiences new perspectives and shared human experiences.
“This year also marks a milestone in Qatar’s broader cultural journey. Evolution Nation, an 18-month campaign honouring 50 years of our first national museum, is a powerful reminder of our creative progress. From preserving our heritage to reimagining our future, our nation continues to lead as a beacon of cultural expression and artistic innovation, where creativity thrives, and our stories are shared with the world.”
The festival will open with The Voice of Hind Rajab by Kaouther Ben Hania, marking a powerful start to Qatar’s spotlight of global cinema. A recipient of the Institute’s grants programme, the film highlights the power of storytelling to illuminate truth and resist oppression.
DFF’s International Feature Film Competition has 13 compelling films, with 12 having their Middle East and North African premieres in Doha including festival favouritesThe Presidents Cake; Once Upon a Time in Gaza; Khartoum and Divine Comedy among others. DFI Programmer and filmmaker Majid Al Remaihi said: “The Competition brings together bold films from the Arab world and beyond, from stories that dare to imagine and question to ones that mirror realities far and near— cementing our commitment to amplifying the most promising cinematic voices in the world today.”
