Doha Film Festival celebrates Qatar’s screen industry with four features, an original series

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, October 13, 2026

The Doha Film Festival 2026 will feature four major Qatari feature films and a new original series, highlighting the country’s growing film industry and its international collaborations. This showcase demonstrates Qatar’s strategic efforts to develop local talent and position Doha as a global hub for creative and cultural excellence in cinema.

The upcoming Doha Film Festival 2026 will prominently feature four significant Qatari feature films alongside a new original series, underscoring the rapid development and international reach of Qatar’s screen industry. The festival is scheduled to run from November 19 to 27 in Doha, bringing together filmmakers, audiences, and industry professionals from the region and worldwide.

The selection, part of the festival’s “Special Screenings” program, includes a diverse range of works spanning fiction, documentary, and serialized content. Among the highlighted projects are three films supported by Media City Qatar: *Jodari Meno* by Jamal al-Khanji, *A Very Ordinary Life* by Mohamed Deniz, and *First to Fly* by Rodrigo Vazquez Salesis. Also featured is *When the News Breaks You* by Hamad al-Hajri and a special episode of the original series *Elzam*, produced by Jassim al-Romaihi and Ahmed al-Baker under Katara Studios.

Both *Jodari Meno* and *When the News Breaks You* received funding through grants provided by the Doha Film Institute (DFI) and benefited from mentorship activities at the Qumra 2025 event. This support highlights the collaborative efforts within Qatar’s growing ecosystem dedicated to nurturing filmmakers and production talent across all stages of the creative process.

Fatma Hassan Alremahli, CEO of the Doha Film Institute and the festival’s director, emphasized that these projects illustrate Qatar’s increasing role in empowering ambitious global stories and supporting the creative talent behind them. She noted that the country is focused on building a sustainable film industry by fostering opportunities, enhancing skills, and connecting local talent with international networks. “Together, we are making the vision for Doha’s role as a hub for creative and cultural excellence a reality,” Alremahli said.

Similarly, Hamad Omar AlMannai, chief executive of Media City Qatar, highlighted the importance of the Doha Film Festival as a platform not only for Qatar’s filmmakers but also for storytellers across the wider region to reach global audiences.

This showcase at the festival reflects Qatar’s commitment to advancing an interconnected creative ecosystem through the collaborative efforts of the DFI, Film Committee, Media City Qatar, and Katara Studios. The initiative aims to solidify Doha’s position as a destination for ambitious and original cinematic projects, signaling the country’s rising prominence on the international film stage.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.