The first-ever Doha Film Festival launched on November 20, 2025, in Qatar with the emotional Middle East and North Africa premiere of Kaouther Ben Hania's 'The Voice of Hind Rajab,' introduced by the victim's mother. The event highlights Qatar's growing role in global cinema, featuring industry panels and high-profile guests. Running through November 28, the festival screens 97 films from 62 countries.
Festival Opening
The inaugural Doha Film Festival, organized by the Doha Film Institute (DFI), opened at the Katara Cultural Village in Doha on November 20, 2025. The evening's centerpiece was the MENA premiere of Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania’s docudrama 'The Voice of Hind Rajab,' which recounts the tragic true story of 6-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab, killed on January 29, 2024, in Gaza. The film is built around a real audio recording of Rajab pleading for help during an Israeli military attack on her family's car.
Hind Rajab’s mother, Wissam Hamada, who was evacuated from Gaza in September 2024, introduced the screening. She addressed the audience, saying, “Hind is gone, but her voice still wakes me up every dawn. My message is not just words; it’s the pain of a mother who lost her daughter, and then found in her universal love a message from God.” Hamada did not watch the film, citing its emotional intensity from her daughter's recorded voice. Director Ben Hania thanked the festival for reuniting the cast and real-life Palestinian Red Crescent Society members portrayed in the film.
DFI CEO Fatma Hassan Alremaihi emphasized the institute's support for the project, stating, “DFI has established the golden age of Arab cinema... As we turn a new page with Doha Film Festival, we are poised and ready to write the next chapters of our journey.” The opening ceremony honored Syrian actor Jamal Soliman and Iranian-French actress Golshifteh Farahani with the 2025 Creative Excellence Awards.
Industry Days and Guests
The festival coincides with new Industry Days, hosted by the Qatar Film Committee in collaboration with DFI. Neon CEO Tom Quinn opens the event on November 21 with a fireside chat moderated by Faisal Al-Agel. Panels feature executives like A24's Daniel Katz, Barbara Broccoli, Miramax CEO Jonathan Glickman, and producers from the Global South, discussing global production, financing, and streaming adaptations.
Expected attendees include Steven Soderbergh, Michaela Coel, Ramy Youssef, and Mo Amer. The events underscore Qatar's push to diversify its economy through media, building on DFI's 15-year legacy and initiatives like the former Ajyal festival.
'The Voice of Hind Rajab' world-premiered at the 2024 Venice Film Festival, earning a 23-minute ovation and backing from figures like Brad Pitt and Joaquin Phoenix. It is Tunisia's entry for the 2025 Oscars.
