Doha Film Festival Announces Ajyal Film Competition Line Up

Doha Film Festival, taking place from November 19 to 27, presents a selection of films in the 2026 Ajyal Film Competition comprising 17 films that celebrate the imagination, curiosity and creative spirit of young people. Through the Ajyal Film Competition, the festival continues to support cinema as a powerful platform for young people to engage in cultural exchange, critical thinking and creative discovery, bringing together filmmakers, audiences and leading voices in the film industry from the region and beyond in celebration of authentic creative storytelling and important voices in cinema.

The 2026 Ajyal Film Competition line-up includes five feature films and 12 short films from a diverse group of filmmakers from around the world, reflecting Ajyal's commitment to empowering young minds through cinema, encouraging meaningful dialogue and fostering a deeper understanding of the world. The Ajyal Jury comprises young men and women aged 16 to 25 who discuss the films and select the winners. The perspectives, questions and interpretations offered by young people are central to the Ajyal programme, affirming the important role new generations play in shaping cultural conversations today.

Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Chief Executive Officer of Doha Film Institute and Festival Director of Doha Film Festival, said young people are not simply the audience of tomorrow, but voices, visionaries and storytellers shaping today's world. She noted that this is reflected in the journey of Ajyal jurors, which has seen significant development, with former jurors now working as film programme curators and discussion moderators and using the power of cinema to create a space that celebrates their individuality and affirms the importance of their voices.

The Feature Film Competition brings together five cinematic voices exploring the complexities of growing up, the search for belonging and the relationships that shape our lives. They are "Ben'Imana" by Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo; "Gabin" by Maxence Voiseux; "Out of School" by Hind Bensari; "Summer Meadow" by Naël Khleifi and Lisa Debauche; and "We Are Aliens" by Kohei Kadowaki.

The Ajyal Short Film Competition brings together 12 standout works reflecting the diversity of young people's experiences and the many ways cinema can illuminate the world. They are "As a Cure" by Dorothea Sing Zhang; "Boomerang Atomic" by Rachid Bouchareb; "Boundaries" by Seun Yee; "Intersecting Memory" by Shayma' Awawdeh; "Nobody Said Anything" by Tamara Todorović; "Prisoner of Love" by Yumna Marwan; "The Bird's Placebo" by Rami Jarboui; "The Kalgan Horse" by Zichen Zhao; "Threads of Support" by Olya Korsun; "Typhoon Mambo" by Domenico Singha Pedroli; "Vegetare" by Adrià Expòsit-Goy; and "We Were Here" by Pranav Bhasin.

Source: QNA

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