Doha Film Festival 2026 Brings Cinema Close to the Community with Free and Inclusive Screenings

• New DFF Classics programme highlights beloved iconic films
• Cinema Under the Stars invites families to enjoy the magic of movies together
• Inclusive Screening in Partnership with CHSS and Katara Studios makes cinema accessible for more audiences

 Doha, Qatar; 4 November 2026: Doha Film Festival (DFF), presented by Doha Film Institute (DFI), is expanding the magical power of movies with a diverse programme of community screenings designed to bring people together, celebrate film heritage and make the cinema experience more accessible for audiences of all ages and abilities.

From beloved animated adventures to landmark world cinema and inclusive screening for audiences with diverse needs, the programme reflects DFI’s enduring commitment to making cinema a shared cultural experience, creating opportunities for more people to experience powerful storytelling on the big screen.

Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, CEO of the Doha Film Institute and Director of Doha Film Festival, said: “Cinema has the unique ability to transcend differences and create a sense of belonging through the stories we share. The experience of cinema should never be limited by age, background or ability. Our community screenings create spaces where families can spend meaningful time together, where new generations discover masterpieces that have shaped our cinematic heritage, and where every member of our community can witness the transformative power of storytelling.”

A major highlight this year is the launch of DFF Classics, a new programme celebrating the enduring artistic and culturally significant cinema with landmark films restored in partnership with the World Cinema Foundation and Doha Film Institute. The initiative brings restored historically important films back to the big screen to share with contemporary audiences cinematic treasures that have shaped world cinema.

The first edition of the programme features the acclaimed The Battle of Algiers (1966) by Gillo Pontecorvo, which won Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, and Shadi Abdel Salam’s The Night of Counting the Years (1969), widely regarded as a defining work of Egyptian and Arab cinema.

Cinema Under the Stars returns to welcome families to enjoy the magic of movies for free in an open-air setting at the MIA Park with three animated adventures – Butterfly Tale, The Little Bear Movie and Babar: King of the Elephants –offering  memorable cinematic experiences across generations, celebrating friendship, courage, belonging and the power of imagination.

Screening with audio description, sign-language interpretation and enhanced subtitles, DFF’s Inclusive Screening, presented in partnership with the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Hamad Bin Khalifa University and with support of Katara Studios features Hasan Hadi’s acclaimed film The President’s Cake, as part of the Institute’s commitment to making cinema accessible to audiences of all abilities. A special Geekdom Screening of Na Hong-Jin’s Hope represents the cinematic aspect of Qatar’s biggest and beloved pop culture event.

DFF Classics:

 The Battle of Algiers (Italy/Algeria) by Gillo Pontecorvo

Gillo Pontecorvo’s landmark, Golden Lion-winner chronicles the Algerian struggle for independence from French colonial rule through the experiences of revolutionaries and the forces sent to suppress them.

 The Night of Counting the Years (Egypt) by Shadi Abdel Salam

When a young man discovers that his community has been secretly trading ancient Egyptian treasures for generations, he faces a profound dilemma between family loyalty and protecting his country’s cultural heritage.

 Cinema Under the Stars:

 Babar: King of the Elephants (Canada/France/Germany) by Raymond Jafelice

Based on Jean de Brunhoff’s beloved books, this animated adventure follows Babar’s journey from the forest to the city and back, as he discovers his place in the world and his destiny as king.

 Butterfly Tale (Canada/Germany) by Sophie Roy

A butterfly who has never been able to fly joins the great monarch migration with two unlikely friends, embarking on an adventure that teaches them the power of courage, friendship and embracing their differences.

The Little Bear Movie (Canada) by Raymond Jafelice

When a young bear becomes separated from his family, Little Bear and his friends embark on a woodland adventure to reunite him with his loved ones.

Inclusive Screening:

The President’s Cake (Iraq) by Hasan Hadi

In 1990s Iraq, nine-year-old Lamia embarks on a challenging journey across her city to gather ingredients for a cake she has been assigned to make for the president’s birthday.

Geekdom Screening:

 Hope (South Korea) by Na Hong-Jin

When reports of a mysterious creature unsettle a remote village near the Korean Demilitarized Zone, a police chief and the local community find themselves confronting an extraordinary and terrifying threat.

Key Partners of Doha Film Festival include Katara, Media City Qatar I Film Committee and Visit Qatar. Taking place from 19–27 November 2026, Doha Film Festival brings together filmmakers, audiences and industry voices from the region and beyond to honour original storytelling and important voices in film.

For more information and to buy tickets for the screenings, Talks and other DFF activations, visit www.dohafilm.com.