DOHA: Doha Film Institute (DFI) is set to further strengthen the capabilities of emerging film producers in Qatar and across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region through its Producers Lab 2026, an intensive online programme designed to enhance the creative, artistic and strategic skills required to develop feature-length films.
Scheduled to run from October 16 to 25, the programme is open to local and MENA-based producers working on feature-length fiction and documentary projects. Applications are currently open, with a submission deadline of September 3.
The English-language programme will accommodate a small group of around eight to 10 projects, providing participants with focused access to industry experts.
The initiative reflects DFI’s continued efforts to nurture emerging filmmaking talent and recognises the central role producers play in defining, supporting and shaping filmmakers’ creative voices.
According to DFI, the Producers Lab also aims to strengthen opportunities for co-production within the MENA region, expand professional networks and contribute to improving the overall quality of film projects developed across the region.
The programme combines intensive training exercises, group tutorials, individual meetings and masterclasses conducted by experienced industry professionals. Participants will receive practical guidance covering the different stages of filmmaking while developing a deeper understanding of the responsibilities and creative role of a producer.
A key component of the Lab will focus on film marketing and distribution, with participants exploring strategies for identifying appropriate audiences, navigating international markets and deploying effective sales approaches.
The programme will also use film case studies to examine critical areas such as script development, executive production, financing and budgeting, post-production workflow, marketing, pitching and distribution.
Participants will have access to industry-standard technical documents and templates, including sample budgets, financing plans, distribution and sales strategies, treatments and pitch materials.
Individual 45-minute advisory sessions will provide participants with project-specific guidance covering areas such as scripts, financing plans, budgets, pitching, packaging and production teams. Group sessions, meanwhile, will allow filmmakers to exchange experiences and discuss challenges facing producers in the region.
The Lab will also address financing strategies, legal considerations surrounding international co-productions, festival strategies and sales, while helping participants understand the different categories of producers, including creative, co-, associate, line and executive producers.
Among the mentors listed for the 2026 programme are sales expert Aranka Matits, producer expert Dora Bouchoucha, and Hédi Zardi, Head of Atlas Workshops. The intermediate-to-advanced programme carries a participation fee of QR1,500 and is specifically targeted at producers developing feature-length film projects.
