Doha Film Institute Spring 2026: Funding News

Qatar's Doha Film Institute (DFI) has selected 48 projects from 39 countries for its Spring 2026 funding round, including works by Qatari and Qatar-based filmmakers, as well as emerging and established voices from across the MENA region and beyond.
 
The DFI Grants Programme supports first and second-time filmmakers globally alongside established MENA directors in Post-Production.
 
Reflecting the diversity and global reach of contemporary cinema, the 2026 grants cycle is supporting projects from MENA countries including Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia and the UAE.
 
Internationally, the selected projects represent Cuba, Canada, Chile, France, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, South Africa, Spain, Thailand and the UK.
 
Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Chief Executive Officer of Doha Film Institute, said: “In a world that is constantly changing, culture remains one of our most powerful anchors – preserving our memories, shaping our identities and connecting us across generations. More than ever, we need authentic stories that reflect the complexity of human experiences and safeguard the histories, perspectives and voices that might otherwise be forgotten.
 
“The filmmakers supported through our 2026 Spring Grants represent the storytellers of tomorrow. Their work carries the responsibility and the opportunity to document our present, challenge perceptions and create a lasting cinematic record for future generations.”

DOHA FILM INSTITUTE SPRING 2026: 

MENA – Feature Narrative – Development:

Bayt Rabab (Lebanon, Estonia, Qatar)
Dir: Pedro Hasrouny

About Love & September Laws (Sudan, France, Germany, Sweden, KSA, Qatar)
Dir: Mohamed Kordofani

When Blood Calls (Egypt, Cuba, Brazil, Qatar)
Dir: Fady Gamal Soliman

MENA – Feature Documentary – Development:

Land Keepers (Lebanon, US, Qatar)
Dir: Iyad Abou Gaida and Darine Hotait

Searching For Nidal (Lebanon, France, Qatar)
Dir: Fatima Joumaa

Voy y Vuelvo (I'll Be Right Back) (Palestine, Chile, Qatar)
Dir: Andrés Khamis Giacoman and Francisca Khamis Giacoman

Before Our Diaspora (UK, France, Qatar)
Dir: Theo Panagopoulos

MENA – Shorts – Narrative – Development:

Moments We Lived (Qatar)
Dir: Ibrahim Albuainain

Harf Esem: Forced Landing (Qatar)
Dir: Mohammed A. Al-Suwaidi

Spooky Saeko (Qatar, China)
Dir: Alhanoof Mubarak Alnaemi

MENA – TV Series – Development:

Sisters Of Rap (Tunisia, France, Qatar)
Dir: Olfa Ben Achour

Off The Books (Libya, Qatar)
Dir: Muhannad Lamin

MENA – Feature Narrative – Production:

Accept My Plea For Burial (Somalia, Djibouti, Qatar)
Dir: Mohammed Sheikh

The Tanjawi (Morocco, France, Qatar)
Dir: Zahoua Raji and Ayoub Layoussifi

Blue Card (Sudan, Egypt, KSA, Germany, Qatar)
Dir: Mohammed Alomda

Faux Bijoux (Lebanon, France, Belgium, Qatar)
Dir: Jessy Moussallem

MENA – Feature Documentary – Production:

When Time Dissolves Into Silence (Morocco, France, Qatar)
Dir: Faiçal Benaghrou

Testahbis (Syria, UAE, Qatar)
Dir: Waleed Al Madani

Disappeared (Syria, France, Lebanon, Qatar)
Dir: Anas Zawahri

Solo (Tunisia, France, Qatar)
Dir: Amine Boukhris

+477 Night (Palestine, Qatar)
Dir: Aisha Adly

Portrait Of A (Jordan, Germany, Qatar)
Dir: Rand Beiruty

MENA – Web Series – Production:

Mehdi: Delivery Notice (Algeria, France, Qatar)
Dir: Oussama Bouacheria

MENA – Shorts – Narrative – Production:

Qadar (Qatar)
Dir: Aisha Al-Khanji

Until The Rain Stops (Jordan, Palestine, Qatar)
Dir: Jehad Hallaq

Khansa's Nouba (Algeria, Qatar)
Dir: Kamir Abbas-Terki

The Pickle Jar (Lebanon, Qatar)
Dir: Joy Hallak

From Dhawi To Dhawi..Your Love (Sudan, Egypt, Qatar)
Dir: Shehab Satti

What I Owe To My Mother (Egypt, Canada, Qatar)
Dir: Khaled Moeit

Intuition (Qatar)
Dir: Aysha Alabdulla

MENA – Shorts – Documentary – Production:

Ayta (Lebanon, Brazil, Qatar)
Dir: Nader Bahsoun

Daughters Of Al-Azeeb (Iraq, Qatar)
Dir: Budoor Al Abid and Ali Mohammed

In Limbo (Palestine, Canada, Qatar)
Dir: Rame Ibrahim and Asil Majed Al-Wadiya

MENA – Feature Narrative – Post-Production:

Conversation With The Sea (Palestine, KSA, Netherlands, Qatar)
Dir: Muayad Alayan

MENA – Feature Documentary – Post-Production:

Wilderness Of Dreams (Egypt, Belgium, France, Qatar)
Dir: Mona Lotfy

You Don't Die Two Times (Algeria, Netherlands, Germany, Qatar)
Dir: Ager Oueslati

Getting Colder (Iraq, UK, Hungary, Qatar)
Dir: Koutaiba Al-Janabi

MENA – Experimental/Essay – Production:

When The Sun Rises From The South (Syria, Sweden, Qatar)
Dir: Yaser Kassab

Non-MENA – Feature Narrative – Post-Production:

Haven Of Hope (Pakistan, France, Germany, Netherlands, KSA, Qatar)
Dir: Seemab Gul

Strawberries (Morocco, France, Spain, Belgium, Qatar)
Dir: Laïla Marrakchi

9 Temples To Heaven (Thailand, Singapore, France, Norway, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Qatar)
Dir: Sompot Chidgasornpongse

The Rift [L'Escletxa] (Spain, Belgium, Qatar)
Dir: Àlex Lora Cercós

Ben'Imana (Rwanda, Gabon, France, Norway, Qatar)
Dir: Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo

Non-MENA – Feature Documentary – Post-Production:

Magnetic Letters (Philippines, Qatar)
Dir: Demie Dangla

Az Zeeb (Chile, Qatar)
Dir: Rafael Guendelman Hales

The Lions Of Canaan (UK, US, Qatar)
Dir: Liam O'Hare and Lama Al-Arian

The Hummingbird Paints Fragrant Songs (Peru, USA, Qatar)
Dir: Èlia Gasull Balada and Matteo Norzi

Non-MENA – Experimental/Essay – Post-Production:

A Girl And A Gun (South Africa, France, Qatar)
Dir: Arya Amber Lalloo

Where Life Holds (France, Germany, Algeria, Qatar)
Dir: Aude Fourel