Walter Salles, Johnnie To, Lav Diaz, Darius Khondji and Anna Terrazas will serve as Qumra Masters at the 11th edition of the Doha Film Institute’s annual talent and project incubator.
They follow in the wake of some 50 top cinemas figures who have also taken up the role over the past 10 editions, including Claire Denis, Leos Carax, Tilda Swinton, Gael Garcia Bernal and James Gray.
The event, running from April 4 to 9, will invite the producers and directors of some 40 projects supported by the Doha Film Institute (DFI) for six days of development support and networking.
Brazilian director Salles (The Motorcycle Diaries) will be in attendance at the meeting fresh from his buzzy awards season with his Oscar-nominated drama I’m Still Here.
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Filipino director Diaz brings his vision of a special brand of slow cinema which includes films such as The Woman Who Left and Evolution of a Filipino Family.
Iranian-French cinematographer Khondji has worked with a host of high-profile directors including including Bong Joon-ho, David Fincher, Woody Allen, Jean-Pierre Jeunet and James Gray, with credits including Amour and The Immigrant.
Hong Kong filmmaker To has a cult following worldwide on the back of pictures such as Breaking News, Election, Exiled, Mad Detective and Drug War.
Costume designer Terrazas began her career with former Qumra Master Bernal on his directorial debut Deficit and has since worked with Alfonso Cuarón on Roma and Alejandro G. Iñárritu on Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths.
“We are truly honoured to welcome some of the world’s most celebrated creatives Lav Diaz, Darius Khondji, Walter Salles, Anna Terrazas and Johnnie To as Qumra Masters, joining the legacy of iconic storytellers who have supported us on our mission to empower important voices in film,” said DFI CEO Fatma Hassan Alremaihi.
“Their artistry, innovation, and commitment to storytelling have left an indelible mark on world cinema. By sharing their knowledge and experience with our Qumra participants, they will inspire a new generation to refine their craft, and tell bold enduring stories that will shape the future of cinema.”
As Qumra Masters, Salles, To, Diaz, Khondji and Terrazas will each give a masterclass about lessons learned across their career as well as one-on-one advice on a number of projects participating in the meeting.
“Cinema is not just the stories we tell, but the silences in between—the spaces where meaning lingers. At Qumra, these silences resonate loudly, where emerging voices are amplified by the wisdom of the Qumra Masters. It is a place of transformation, where the future of film is not dictated, but discovered,” said DFI Artistic Advisor Elia Suleiman.
The post Walter Salles, Johnnie To, Lav Diaz, Darius Khondji & Anna Terrazas Named As 2025 Qumra Masters appeared first on Deadline.
