Doha: Doha Film Festival (DFF), presented by
Doha Film Institute (DFI), has announced the selection for the 2026 Ajyal Film
Competition, bringing together 17 films that celebrate the imagination,
curiosity and creative spirit of young people. Featuring five feature films and
12 short films from a diverse range of international filmmakers, the selection
reflects Ajyal's commitment to empowering young minds through cinema,
encouraging meaningful dialogue and fostering a deeper understanding of the
world.
At the heart of the competition is the Ajyal
Jury of young people aged 16-25 who engage in conversations about the films and
select the winners, affirming the role of the new generation in shaping
cultural conversations. Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, CEO of DFI and Festival
Director of DFF, said: "Young people are not simply the audience of
tomorrow; they are voices, visionaries and storytellers shaping our world today."
The Feature Film Competition brings together
five distinctive cinematic voices exploring the complexities of growing up, the
search for belonging and the relationships that shape lives, including
"Ben'Imana" by Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo, winner of the Caméra
d'Or at Cannes 2026, "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 short film selection brings together 12 standout works reflecting the diversity of young people's experiences, including "As a Cure" by Dorothea Sing Zhang, "Boomerang Atomic" by Rachid Bouchareb, "Boundaries" by Seun Yee, "Intersecting Memory" by Shayma' Awawdeh and "Threads of Support" by Olya Korsun, among others. Taking place from November 19-27, 2026, the Doha Film Festival brings together filmmakers, audiences and industry voices from the region and beyond to honour original storytelling and important voices in film.
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