A rising film capital takes its first bow | The Express Tribune

The inaugural Doha Film Festival has opened with a sense of purpose that stretches far beyond red carpets, as organisers position the event as a catalyst for global storytelling and a renewed force for independent cinema across the region and beyond.

Over the coming week, the festival will screen 97 films from 62 countries, a slate that underscores its ambition to expand cinematic diversity while elevating voices often marginalised in mainstream circuits. Nearly half of the selected titles are directed by women, highlighting a deliberate push toward representation and inclusion.

Qatari filmmaker and festival programmer Majid Al-Remaihi said the selection reflects a world in flux, adding that the committee wanted films able to capture the urgency of contemporary narratives shaping global culture today. He emphasised that each choice aims to spotlight storytellers whose perspectives feel essential in this moment.

The opening night set a powerful tone with the Middle East premiere of Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania’s drama ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’, a film centred on a six-year-old Palestinian girl trapped in a car attacked by Israeli forces in Gaza. The victim’s mother, Wissam Hamada, attended the ceremony and told the audience she had “lost my daughter, but I did not lose my humanity.”

The screening marked the first time the film’s cast met members of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society they portray, adding emotional resonance to an already charged premiere. Ben Hania noted the overwhelming response in Doha, saying the gathering reflected the depth of connection many feel with the story.

The Doha Film Institute has long supported Arab cinema, with CEO Fatma Hassan Alremaihi stressing that DFI was the earliest funder of ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’. She said the festival represents a continuation of the institute’s 15-year effort to nurture films with lasting cultural impact across the region.

During the ceremony, DFI Chairperson Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani presented Creative Excellence Awards to Egyptian actor Jamal Soliman and Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani, acknowledging their contributions to international cinema.

The festival has drawn major global figures including Steven Soderbergh, Ramy Youssef, Michaela Coel and Mo Amer, alongside industry executives from leading studios Neon, Miramax and AGC. Their presence signals growing confidence in Doha’s expanding creative ecosystem.

Running from 20 to 28 November, the first edition of the Doha Film Festival aims not merely to showcase films but to spark dialogue, bridge cultures and carve a place for regional storytelling within the broader cinematic landscape.