Tribune News Network
Doha
The 11th edition of Qumra, Doha Film Institute’s (DFI) annual talent incubator for Arab and international cinema, is set to provide 49 exceptional projects by emerging filmmakers from over 20 countries with invaluable support and guidance. This year’s diverse selection includes 16 projects by Qatari and Qatar-based filmmakers, highlighting the growing strength of the country’s creative industry.
As a one-of-a-kind initiative, Qumra offers mentorship, skills development, and network-building opportunities, empowering filmmakers to bring their visions to life. Participants will engage in in-depth activities with Qumra Masters and leading industry experts, with in-person sessions taking place in Doha from April 4 to 9, followed by online sessions from April 12 to 14.
Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, CEO of DFI, said: “For more than a decade, Qumra has served as a career-changing destination for emerging filmmakers to hone their skills and advance their projects under the guidance of accomplished filmmakers and industry experts. As a one-of-its-kind talent incubator, we continue to build on our legacy of supporting some of the world’s most exciting storytellers throughout their film journey. At a time when filmmakers need support the most – not just financial but also creative and technical, Qumra demonstrates the role we can play collectively to shape the next generation of creative masters.”
Qumra 2025 projects include:
Development – Feature Narrative: The Good Spirit (Palestine, UK, Qatar) by Razan Madhoon; The Joyful 1926 (Algeria, France, Qatar) by Damien Ounouri and Adila Bendimerad; The Pearl (Working Title) (Qatar) by Noor Al-Nasr; and Quarter to Thursday (Algeria, France, Qatar) by Sofia Djama.
Development – Feature Documentary or Essay: In the Name of Safia (Algeria, Belgium, France, Qatar) by Safia Kessas; Just Like a Dream (Lebanon, Qatar) by Corine Shawi; The Sixth Story (Iraq, UK, Qatar) by Ahmed Abd; andSpeak Image, Speak (Palestine, Germany, Qatar) by Pary El-Qalqili.
In Production – Feature Narrative: In Memory of Times to Come (Palestine, Denmark, Malta, UK, Belgium, Qatar) by Larissa Sansour; Love 45 (Syria, France, Switzerland, Qatar) by Anas Khalaf; Sari & Amira (Qatar) by A J Al-Thani;and Sound of Silence (Lebanon, France, Greece, UK, Qatar) by Joyce A. Nashawati.
In Production – Feature Documentary or Essay: Climbing the Mountains (Algeria, France, Qatar) by Sabrina Chebbi; and Flower of the Sand (Morocco, Qatar) by Jaouad Babili.
Post-Production – Feature Narrative – Picture Lock: Cotton Queen (Sudan, Germany, France, Palestine, Egypt, Qatar) by Suzannah Mirghani is about Nafisa; The Fin (South Korea, Germany, Qatar) by Syeyoung Park; Marie & Jolie (Tunisia, France, Qatar) by Erige Sehiri; The President’s Cake (Iraq, Qatar) by Hasan Hadi; The Reserve (Mexico, Qatar) by Pablo Pérez Lombardini; Roqia (Algeria, France, Qatar, KSA) by Yanis Koussim; and Sleepless City (Spain, France, Qatar) by Guillermo García López.
Post-Production – Feature Documentary or Essay – Picture Lock: Fatna, a Woman Named Rachid (France, Morocco, Belgium, Qatar) by Hélène Harder; Mother of Silence (Iraq, France, Qatar) by Zahraa Ghandour; Once Upon a Time in Shiraz (Iran, France, Norway, South Korea, Qatar) by Hamed Zolfaghari;and Souraya Mon Amour (Lebanon, Qatar) by Nicolas Khoury.
Post-Production – Feature Documentary or Essay – Work-in-progress:The Day of Wrath: Tales from Tripoli (Lebanon, KSA, Qatar) by Rania Rafei; and Jodari Meno (Qatar) by Dr Jamal Rashid Al-Khanji.
Development – TV or Web Series: Al-Michelin (Jordan, USA, UAE) by Abdul-Rahman Sakr; (Dis)Closed (Palestine) by Aida Kaadan; Dirty Hands (Lebanon) by Georges Hazim and Maya Dagher; Last Words (Lebanon, Qatar) by Antoine Waked is about Nour; The Lost City (South Africa) by Chantel Clark; Nadine (Egypt, France, Qatar) by Amina Abdelwahab and Claire Saint-Pierre; Palmyra (Lebanon, France, Qatar) by Carol Mezher and Gabriela Flores; Rent-a-Mama (Lebanon, Canada, Qatar) by Dania Bdeir; and Task Force: Apocalypse! (Palestine, Qatar) by Dana J. Atrach and Anne Sobel.
Showcase – TV or Web Series: El’Sardines (Algeria, France, KSA, Qatar) by Zoulikha Tahar.
Development – Short Narratives: Ghafla (Lebanon, Qatar) by Tony El Ghazal; Gharbalah (Yemen, Qatar) by Afnan Tag; Inside the White Canvas (Qatar) by Amna Al-Binali; Rumor Has It (Qatar) by Mohammed D Fakhro;and Sad Boy: The Movie (Qatar) by N&LS.
Development – Short Documentary or Essay:Me Are You (Lebanon, Qatar) by Myriam Salloum.
