Doha Film Festival announces 15-film International Feature Competition for November 2026

Mixed · 2The Doha Film Festival (DFF) has announced the 15 titles in its International Feature Film Competition for its second edition, which runs 19–27 November in Qatar. 1 2 Mixed · 2Variety describes the lineup as mostly Middle East premieres of films from the region, seven of them directed by women. Eleven of the 15 films are supported by the Doha Film Institute (DFI), which oversees the festival. 2 1 Mixed · 2Four Palestinian films compete: Hosam Abu Dan's Gaza-shot "Thirteen in Gaza", which won a prize in Toronto (Deadline says the NETPAC Award); Muayad Alayan's Venice-selected "Conversation with the Sea"; Rabab Khamis's documentary "Sama", which world-premieres at the festival; and Mohanad Yaqubi's "Revolutionaries Never Die", which Deadline says won a Special Jury Prize at Locarno. 1 2

Mixed · 2Yemeni-Scottish director Sara Ishaq's "The Station", set in war-torn Yemen, was announced earlier as the opening film and also competes. 1 2 Mixed · 2Other Arab-world entries include Asmahan Bkerat's "Concrete Land" and Moroccan director Tala Hadid's "Bardi", about the equestrian tradition of Tbourida. Sub-Saharan Africa is represented by Auguste Bernard Kouemo's "House of the Wind", which won the Lion of the Future and the Special Jury Prize in Venice's Orizzonti, and Hugo Salvaterra's "My Semba", set in Luanda. 1 2 Centre · 1Asian entries include Sompot Chidgasornpongse's "9 Temples to Heaven", Thailand's submission for the 99th Academy Awards. Deadline also lists Zou Jing's "A Girl Unknown" and Rafael Manuel's "Filipiñana", the Philippines' Oscar submission. The rest of the lineup is Manuela Martelli's "The Meltdown" (Chile), Alessandra Sanguinetti's "The Illusion of an Everlasting Summer" (Locarno Golden Leopard, Filmmakers of the Present) and Alexander Murphy's "Tin Castle", about an Irish traveller family. 1

Mixed · 2Prizes are US$75,000 for best narrative, US$50,000 for best documentary, US$45,000 for artistic achievement and US$15,000 for a gender-neutral performance award. Deadline adds that a five-member jury decides and a special mention certificate will be given. 2 1 Mixed · 2DFI CEO and DFF Director Fatma Hassan Alremaihi said the films are united by the filmmakers' courage, imagination and urgency, and that the festival was created to give unheard voices a home. 1 2 Mixed · 2The festival expands on the DFI's Ajyal Film Festival, which was youth- and family-focused. Partners include Katara, Media City Qatar's Film Committee and Visit Qatar. 2 1

Centre · 1Deadline says the announcement signals the DFI's confidence that the event will proceed despite regional instability from the U.S.-Iran-Israel war, and notes Qatar's role as a mediator in indirect U.S.-Iran talks. This is Deadline's reading; the festival has not been quoted on it. 1