Doha Film Institute CEO Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, who over the past 15 years has been instrumental in turning the DFI into the region’s pre-eminent indie industry driver with its film funding programs, is looking to take the DFI’s role to the next level.
Alremaihi is spearheading the launch of the upcoming Doha Film Festival, which runs Nov. 20-28 in the Qatari capital and will transform the DFI’s existing Ajyal fest for youth audiences into a more ambitious international event for a broader audience.
Characterized by a strong regional component and an accent on the Palestinian plight, the Doha Film Festival will open with Kaouther Ben Hania’s “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” as previously announced.
There will be 97 films from 62 countries – about half of which are cherry-picked regional premieres of titles that have already bowed at the world’s top festivals – screening across different sections.
But the Doha Film Festival will also intentionally overlap with Geekdom, Qatar’s largest pop culture event, which spans from E-sports tournaments, to anime, cosplaying and live gaming, as well as film and music performances.
Ahead of its inaugural edition, the DFI chief, who is also the fest’s artistic director, took questions from Variety and explained the spirit of the fest and the synergy between the two events.
Talk to me about the importance of amplifying Palestinian voices at the Doha Film Festival, starting with the opener, “The Voice of Hind Rajab”
DFI has always championed voices from underrepresented communities from around the world to bring balanced, truthful narratives to global audiences. So amplifying Palestinian stories has been essential in our work as a cultural organization. Cinema captures the perseverance of the human spirit like no other art form can, opens hearts and changes perspectives, and that’s never been more necessary than it is today.
We remain steadfast in our commitment to the accurate portrayal of their lived experiences and humanity and opening with “The Voice of Hind Rajab” is an intentional choice. It’s a reminder of why cinema matters — because it bears witness, confronts truth, preserves memory, and restores humanity to those voices being reduced to headlines or silenced.
Palestinian filmmakers have always shown extraordinary courage and artistry in telling stories of loss, resilience, and identity, and we are standing in solidarity by ensuring that their narratives are seen, discussed, and felt globally.
What are the festival’s four world premieres? How important will it be for this event to get world premieres going forward?
We are honored to host the world premieres of [Qatari thriller] “Sa3oud Wainah” by Mohammed Al-Ibrahim; “My Story” [a doc about Syrian actor and political figure Jamal Soliman] by Egyptian director Yasser Ashour; “When the Camera Froze” by [Palestinian artist and war photographer Belal Khaled]; and “Abu Jabal” by [Palestinian director] Bisan Owda — each a powerful original voice and a testament to the creativity and resilience of filmmakers who are redefining storytelling from our region.
World premieres mean much more than the prestige or headlines they create – it is the trust they represent. When a filmmaker chooses to share their film with the world for the first time here in Doha, they acknowledge our festival as an important place of discovery and dialogue.
As we grow, we continue to strengthen our relationships and make Doha Film Festival a place where artists feel safe, supported and honored for their bold ideas, and where stories from the Arab world resonate beyond borders.
Talk to me about the festival’s industry side. How is this fest going to help advance Qatar’s role in the film, TV, and media sector?
The DFF Talks include the industry component of the festival, with the Industry Days program presented by Film Committee at Media City Qatar.
These cover a broad spectrum of creative work that intersects with how films are made and what they are made about, contributing to Qatar’s leadership as a global hub for creative development.
The industry platform builds directly on 15 years of the DFI’s longstanding mission of nurturing talent, connecting local and regional voices with international experts from the creative community.
DFF 2025’s industry events reinforce Qatar’s position as a dynamic hub for storytelling and creative production and the festival’s position as a launchpad for promising talent from our region. From facilitating co-productions to sales and distribution deals, we are growing a sustainable ecosystem for film, TV, and emerging media that turns creative ambition into lasting industry impact.
How is the festival going to intersect with Geekdom, which is Qatar’s largest pop culture event?
Geekdom shares the same spirit as Doha Film Festival — one of imagination, creativity and community. As Qatar’s homegrown pop culture convention, Geekdom has evolved into a beautiful space where our creative communities – fans, gamers, artists and creators – unite to honor what they love.
The synergy between the two events expands the idea of storytelling to include the deep connection between cinema and popular culture. Film, gaming, animation and cosplay are all forms of expression that inspire and unite people, and this reflects our belief that creativity is not limited by the medium with which we choose to express it. Whether it’s on the big screen or in a virtual world, the stories that resonate with us remind us of who we are and how we are connected through things that we love.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.