Still from Annemarie Jacir’s Palestine 36
Doha, Qatar: Doha Film Festival (DFF), presented by Doha Film Institute (DFI), announced its Special Screenings and Gala Presentations, remarkable works from across the world that honour cinema’s enduring ability to bridge cultures and inspire understanding.
The line-up shines a spotlight on stories that move, inspire, and connect us — including the world premiere of the much-anticipated Qatari feature Sa3oud Wainah by Mohamed Al-Ibrahim, underscoring the Institute’s continued commitment to supporting homegrown talent and showcasing the strength of Qatar’s creative voices on the global stage; Re-creationby legendary director and Qumra2024 Master Jim Sheridan; a special invitation only screening of Annemarie Jacir’s Palestine 36 that has captivated audiences globally; Andy-Mundy Castle’s Shoot the People followingrenowned photographer and global activist Misan Harriman and Yasser Ashour’s My Story about acclaimed actor Jamal Soliman who will receive Doha Film Festival’s Creative Excellence Award in recognition of his artistic journey and his enduring contribution to Arab storytelling.
Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Festival Director and CEO of DFI, said:“Our Gala and Special Screenings express the festival’s spirit of cinematic discovery and dialogue. These films reflect the courage and creativity of storytellers who challenge us to see the world through bold new perspectives.They represent the diversity of human experience and the power of creative storytelling to bring people closer together. From works by international auteurs to inspiring local talent shaping Qatar’s film landscape, theprogrammeunderlines our belief in cinema’s universal power to unite and uplift.”
Films in Special Screenings are: ‘My Story’(Egypt/France/Syria)by Yasser Ashour is an intimate, cross-continental documentary that traces the journey of acclaimed Syrian actor and political figure Jamal Soliman, ‘Palestine 36’(Palestine/UK/France/Denmark/Norway/Qatar/KSA/Jordan) byAnnemarie Jacir, presented as an invitation only screening, tells a story of individual actions against the roiling history of 1936 during the British Mandate for Palestine.
Films in Gala Presentations are: ‘Re-Creation’ (Ireland/Luxembourg)by Jim Sheridan & David Merrimanis a fictionalised courtroom trial exploring the murder of French producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier, questioning facts and debating the innocence of her convicted murderer, Ian Bailey; ‘Sa3oud Wainah’(Qatar) by Mohammed Al-Ibrahimis a mystery thriller about a magic trick gone wrong between two brothers, Hamood and Sa3oud, where Sa3oud disappears but doesn’t reappear. As a series of strange events unfold at their farmhouse, the film explores whether it’s a prank or something more sinister; ‘Shoot The People’(UK)by Andy-Mundy Castle follows acclaimed photographer Misan Harriman as he documents protest movements across the globe. But in a world more divided than ever, he is forced to question whether activism can actually deliver social change and if his own work can really make a difference.
Taking place from 20–28 November 2025, Doha Film Festival (DFF) represents the bold next chapter in Doha Film Institute’s mission to nurture regional talent and champion urgent and authentic stories in cinema.
