Introduction to the Doha Film Festival
The Doha Film Festival has announced its full program for the international feature film competition, which will take place from November 20 to 28. The lineup includes 13 titles from around the world, showcasing a diverse range of stories and themes.
Featured Films and Directors
The selection includes films such as "Once upon a time in Gaza" by Tarzan and Arab Nasser, which had its world premiere at Cannes and won the award for best director. Another notable film is "The President’s Cake" by Hasan Hadi, which celebrated its world premiere in Cannes as part of the director’s fortnight and won the Camera d’Or prize.
Documentaries and Co-Productions
The festival will also feature documentaries such as "Khartoum," which had its world premiere at Sundance, and "My father and Gaddafi," which tells the story of the filmmaker’s quest to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of her father. Ten of the selected films are co-productions with Qatar’s participation, highlighting the country’s involvement in the global film industry.
Global Representation and Themes
The selected films span five continents and deal with contemporary issues such as ecological crises, war, and displacement. The lineup includes films from countries such as Mexico, Japan, and Iran, demonstrating the festival’s commitment to showcasing a diverse range of perspectives and stories.
Festival Details and Locations
The Doha Film Festival will take place at various locations across Doha, including Katara Cultural Village, Msheireb Downtown Doha, and the Museum of Islamic Art. The festival’s CEO, Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, stated that the selected films represent humanity’s creativity and resilience, and demonstrate the ability of film to shape the future of our societies.
International Feature Film Competition Lineup
The full lineup for the international feature film competition includes:
- Khartoum (Sud-UK-Der-Qat) Dirs. Anas Saeed, Rawia Alhag, Ibrahim Snoopy Ahmed, Timeea Mohamed Ahmed and Philip Cox
- Cotton Queen (South German-Fr-Pal-Egy-Qat) Dir. Suzannah Mirghani
- Once upon a time in Gaza (Pal-Fr-Ger-Por-Qat) Dres. Tarzan and Arba Nasser
- With Hasan in Gaza (German-Pal-Fr-Qat) Dir. Kamal Aljafari
- The President’s Cake (Iraq-US-Qat) Dir. Hasan Hadi
- My father and Gaddafi (Lib-Qat) Dir. Jihan k
- Renoir (Jap-Fr-Sin-Phil-Ind-Qat) Dir. Chie Hayakawa
- Sleepless city (Sp-Fri-Qat) Dir. Guillermo García López
- The last shore (Belgian-French) Dir. Jean-François Ravagnan
- The reserve (Mex-Qat) Dir. Pablo Pérez Lombardini
- Divine comedy (Iran-It-Fr-Ger-Tur) Dir. Ali Asgari
- Hair, paper, water (Belgian-French-Vietnam) Dir. Truong Minh Quy and Nicolas Graux
- Blue heron (Can-hu) Dir. Sophy Romvari
Conclusion
The Doha Film Festival promises to be an exciting event, showcasing a diverse range of films and stories from around the world. With its commitment to showcasing global perspectives and themes, the festival is sure to provide a unique and enriching experience for audiences.
