The Doha Film Institute has revealed fresh details about its new Doha Film Festival, including awards worth more than $300,000 in total.
The inaugural edition of the festival, which builds on the DFI’s decade-old youth and family-skewed Ajyal Film Festival, will run from November 20 to 28.
It will feature four competition strands: the International Feature Film Competition, International Short Film Competition, the Ajyal Film Competition, judged by the festival’s youth jury, and the Made in Qatar Competition, dedicated to filmmakers based in Qatar.
Details of the new festival were announced as the DFI celebrates the 15th anniversary of the announcement of its creation in Cannes in 2010 by DFI Chair H.E Sheikha Al Mayassa.
Fifteen years on, the institute is in Cannes with eight features supported by its grants program: Palme d’Or contender Renoir; Un Certain Regard titles Aisha Can’t Fly Away, Promised Sky, Once Upon a Time in Gaza; Critics’ Week films Sleepless City and L’Mina; Directors’ Fortnight title The President’s Cake and ACID’s Life After Siham.
The new international festival adds to the DFI’s wider program fostering film culture in Qatar and the Middle East and North Africa region, which includes year-round workshops, the grants scheme and the bespoke Qumra industry event in the spring.
The International Feature Film Competition jury will consist of five industry experts selecting winners in Best Narrative (with a prize money of US$75,000), Best Documentary (US$50,000), Best Artistic Achievement for feature narrative or documentary (US$45,000), and Best Performance (US$15,000) categories. A certificate of Special Mention will also be presented to a feature narrative or documentary.
In the International Short Film Competition, judged by a three-member jury, films will compete for Best Film – Narrative or Documentary (US$20,000), Best Director (US$12,000), and Best Performance (US$7,000).
In the International Short Film Competition, judged by a three-member jury, films will compete for Best Film – Narrative or Documentary (US$20,000), Best Director (US$12,000), and Best Performance (US$7,000).
Made in Qatar Competition will celebrate talent based in Qatar with awards for Best Short – Narrative or Documentary (US$15,000), Best Director (US$10,000) and Best Performance (US$5,000) reinforcing DFI’s commitment to celebrating homegrown storytellers.
The Ajyal Film Competition, with a youth jury aged 16-25, will present awards for Best Feature – Narrative or Documentary (US$35,000) and Best Short – Narrative or Documentary (US$12,000).
An Audience Award will also be presented during the festival with the winner receiving a certificate and trophy.
“Doha Film Festival is not only a celebration of cinema, but a platform for purpose-driven storytelling amplifying important voices that are redefining the global film landscape with depth, nuance, and truth,” said DFI Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, who will also be the festival director.
“It is the next chapter in our continued mission to nurture independent filmmakers, inspire new perspectives and foster cultural dialogue through cinema. The festival will offer a vibrant meeting point for film lovers, a stage for powerful stories and a launchpad for a new generation of cinematic talent.”
DFF is an expansion of the strong foundation we built with Ajyal Film Festival as a unique platform for self-expression and creative empowerment, and we look forward to guests celebrating the unifying power of film with us in Doha this November.” she added.
On that basis, the new festival will retain popular elements of Ajyal while introducing new dimensions linked to Qatar’s ambitions to be leading player in the arts, culture, media and entertainment worlds.
The festival will unfold across the Qatari capital of Doha. Katara Cultural Village will host red carpet events and premieres, while the Msheireb Downtown Doha will become the central hub for industry sessions and special events. The Museum of Islamic Art will present an intimate setting for short film screenings.
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