The Doha Film Festival 2026, presented by the Doha Film Institute, has announced its program of community screenings, aiming to make cinema a cultural experience accessible to all. The festival, taking place from November 19 to 27, 2026, will feature a diverse range of free screenings, including classic films, animated adventures, and inclusive screenings for people with disabilities. This initiative reflects the institute's commitment to making cinema a shared cultural experience.
Fatima Hassan Al Remaithi, CEO of the Doha Film Institute and director of the Doha Film Festival, emphasized the power of cinema to transcend differences and create a sense of belonging through shared stories. The festival's community screenings will provide families with quality time together, introduce new generations to cinematic classics, and showcase the transformative power of storytelling. The program includes the "Classics of the Doha Film Festival" initiative, which will restore and screen iconic films like "The Battle of Algiers" (1966) and "The Mummy: The Night of the Counting of the Years" (1969).
The "Classics of the Doha Film Festival" program is a collaboration with the World Cinema Foundation and the Doha Film Institute to restore and showcase timeless films with significant artistic and cultural value. The first edition of the program will feature "The Battle of Algiers," directed by Gillo Pontecorvo, which won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, and "The Mummy: The Night of the Counting of the Years," directed by Shadi Abdel Salam, considered a pivotal work in Egyptian and Arab cinema.
In addition to the classic films, the festival will also feature "Cinema Under the Stars," a series of outdoor screenings in the park of the Museum of Islamic Art, where families can enjoy animated adventures like "The Butterfly," "The Little Bear," and "Babar: King of the Elephants." These screenings aim to create unforgettable cinematic experiences that bring together different generations and celebrate friendship, courage, and belonging.
The festival will also offer an inclusive screening of "The Reed Kingdom," directed by Hassan Hadi, with audio description, sign language interpretation, and enhanced subtitles, in partnership with the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Hamad Bin Khalifa University and supported by Katara Studios. Furthermore, Gikdom will screen "Hope," directed by Na Hong-jin, as part of the festival's program.
The Doha Film Festival 2026 is supported by several partners and sponsors, including Katara Cultural Village, Qatar Film Commission, and Visit Qatar. The festival will bring together filmmakers, audiences, and prominent voices in the cinema sector from the region and beyond to celebrate authentic creative storytelling and significant voices in the world of cinema.
The festival's program and tickets for screenings and events are available on the official website, www.dohafilm.com. With its diverse range of screenings and events, the Doha Film Festival 2026 aims to make cinema a shared experience for all, celebrating the power of storytelling and the rich heritage of cinema.
Key points
- The festival features a program of free community screenings, including classic films and animated adventures.
- The "Classics of the Doha Film Festival" initiative will restore and screen iconic films like "The Battle of Algiers" and "The Mummy: The Night of the Counting of the Years."
- The festival offers inclusive screenings for people with disabilities, with audio description, sign language interpretation, and enhanced subtitles.
