Cambodian documentarian and Oscar nominee. Riti Pan will chair the jury of the International Feature Film Competition at Qatarfirst Doha Film Festival in November.
Missing picture And everything will be ok The director will be joined by Tunisian director and screenwriter Raja Amari (Foreign body), Moroccan film director and actor Fouzi Bensaidi (Summer days, Deserts); Tunisian actor and director Dhafer L'Abidine (Godwa) and Alessandra Spelee, founder and curator Venice film festival Final installation in Venice ,post-production support for films originating from Africa and the Arab world.
They will judge a selection of 13 films from world cinema. announced earlier this monthincluding the winner of the Cannes film Un Certain Regard for Best Director Once upon a time in Gaza; Iraqi nomination for 2026 Oscars Presidential cakeand Qatari director Suzanne Mirghani. Cotton Queenwhich recently premiered in Venice.
“The International Feature Film Jury reflects the very essence of the Doha Film Festival – a meeting of storytellers whose work transcends boundaries and explores the complexity of humanity,” said Fatma Hassan Alremahi, festival director and CEO of the Doha Film Institute (DFI), which oversees the new event.
“These remarkable artists bring diverse perspectives that inspire dialogue, reflection and discovery, reflecting our ongoing mission to champion storytelling that connects cultures and redefines narratives. Each represents a distinct cinematic tradition but shares a common commitment to exploring the transformative power of cinema. Their collective insights will help amplify the important voices that are redefining the global cinematic landscape.”
The total prize fund for the International Competition is US$300,000, which will be divided between the categories of Best Story (with a cash prize of US$75,000), Best Documentary (US$50,000), Best Artistic Achievement (US$45,000) and Best Performance (US$15,000). A Special Mention Certificate will also be awarded to the feature film or documentary.
The new Doha Film Festival, taking place November 20-28, will be a continuation of DFI's long-running family-friendly Ajyal Film Festival, which ran for over a decade during the same period.
In addition to the International Competition, the festival will also host the International Short Film Competition, the Ajyal Film Competition, which will be judged by a youth jury; and the Made in Qatar competition, which celebrates the creative talent of Qatari filmmakers.
