Doha Film Festival 2026 Honours Qatar’s Filmmaking Talent with Eight Films in Made in Qatar Competition
- Selection brings together Qatari and resident filmmakers, reflecting the expanding creative potential of Qatar
- Showcase to spotlight homegrown talent and storytelling experience from the nation’s emerging filmmakers
Doha, Qatar; 21 October 2026: Doha Film Festival (DFF) 2026 will spotlight the creativity and ambition of Qatar’s filmmaking community through its Made in Qatar Competition, bringing together eight films that explore deeply personal experiences, family bonds, cultural memory and the imaginative possibilities of cinema.
The selection reflects the breadth of stories being developed and produced in Qatar, with filmmakers drawing on a range of genres, perspectives and cinematic approaches. From intimate explorations of human relationships to supernatural encounters and fantastical journeys, the films demonstrate the growing diversity of voices shaping the country’s screen industry.
The competition will be judged by a distinguished jury comprising of Qatari filmmaker Al Johara Al Thani, Lebanese actress and filmmaker Yumna Marwan, and Palestinian Belgian filmmaker and producer Naël Khleifi. Their combined experience across acting, directing and film production brings a range of creative perspectives to this year’s showcase of homegrown cinema.
Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, CEO of Doha Film Institute and Festival Director of DFF, said: “Filmmaking in Qatar is about creating the space, confidence and opportunity for our storytellers to bring their visions to life. Every film shares a creative voice, a distinctive perspective and a contribution to the cultural landscape we are building together. Through Made in Qatar, we are committed to championing homegrown talent, encouraging bold and original stories, and providing a platform for them to connect with audiences and the international film community.”
2026 Made in Qatar Competition titles are:
- Abu Fanoos (Qatar) by Amira Abujbara and Horia El Hadad
During a desert trip in Qatar, an ageing grandfather attempts to protect his grandson from an eerie presence emerging in the darkness.
- After the Rain (Qatar) by Kholood Al Ali
Lonely Maria discovers a lost unicorn and embarks on a journey across town, evading the dogcatcher as they seek the rainbow bridge that will lead the creature home.
- Constant (Kuwait/Qatar) by Maysaa Almumin
As a woman walks home through the city at night while her husband returns from a trip, she senses an invisible shift in their seemingly perfect marriage. - Crawling Into Myself (Qatar) by Hamad Al Fayhani
As a rare illness erases his face, Bader retreats into isolation, finding companionship only in a beetle, while his mother creates hyper-realistic masks in an attempt to draw him back into the world.
- Ghafleh (Qatar/Lebanon) by Tony El Ghazal
A gifted watchmaker confronts the realisation that he has been absent from his daughter’s life and races to create the perfect watch before their time together runs out.
- In the Silence After (Qatar/USA/Colombia) by Sebastian Delascasas
A son returns home to care for his mother, filming the final year they will spend together in an intimate reflection on love, memory and the passage of time. - Kantqtaa (Qatar) by Yazid Taki
- In a house held together by laundry and routine, a mother’s silence about her own body starts to stain everything she tries to keep clean.
- Light to Ashes (Qatar/France) by Nadia Al-Khater
After losing his family in a sandstorm, a young warrior-poet must confront the ghosts of his past in his quest to find them.
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, visit www.dohafilm.com.
