Doha Film Festival 2026 Spotlights Women and Regional Talent

WHO:

Deadline - The Doha Film Festival (DFF) is involved in the event.

Variety - Yemeni-Scottish filmmaker Sara Ishaq is one of the directors featured in the lineup.

WHAT:

Deadline - The DFF has unveiled the International Feature Film Competition lineup for its second edition.

Deadline - The competition lineup includes fifteen titles.

Variety - The competition lineup consists of 15 titles, with seven directed by women.

Variety - The film "The Station," directed by Sara Ishaq, addresses the impact of Yemen's civil war.

WHERE:

Deadline - The Doha Film Festival is taking place in Qatar.

Deadline - The film "Thirteen in Gaza" is shot in Gaza.

WHEN:

Deadline - The second edition of the Doha Film Festival is scheduled for November 2026.

WHY:

Variety - The festival emphasizes female filmmakers and regional talent.

HOW:

Variety - The competition lineup features mostly Middle East premieres of movies from the region.

(UPDATED October 8, 2026 06:04 UTC)

The Doha Film Festival has announced its International Feature Film Competition lineup for its second edition, set to take place in Qatar in November 2026. This year's competition features fifteen titles, including "The Station," directed by Yemeni-Scottish filmmaker Sara Ishaq, which explores the impact of Yemen's civil war, and notably, seven of the films are directed by women. The festival aims to highlight female filmmakers and regional talent, showcasing mostly Middle East premieres of films from the area.