Joelyn Baluyut
Doha
The countdown to the 2025 Doha Film Festival officially began on Saturday, as the 12th edition of the Ajyal Film Festival came to a close. The annual festival, which has become a cultural cornerstone in Qatar, will be rebranded as the Doha Film Festival starting next year, marking a significant shift for the event and the Doha Film Institute (DFI).
In her speech at the closing ceremony, Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, CEO of the Doha Film Institute and festival director, spoke about the journey of the Ajyal Film Festival and the institution’s vision moving forward. “We always say that Ajyal is not just a festival, it’s an experience for our jurors, for their families, for the whole community,” Alremaihi stated.
“Within our core vision for Ajyal Film Festival and the Doha Film Institute, we strive to understand how to present ourselves—our dreams, our causes, our issues—and how to show them and tell them to the world, and how to discuss them with freedom through our creativity, which you all showcased this week.”
While Ajyal will remain a central part of the festival’s legacy, Alremaihi emphasised the new direction the event would take starting next year. “We’re very proud of the festival and what it became, but we always strive to achieve greater things, more significant things,” she continued.
“Ajyal jurors, you are the heart of Ajyal, but next year, Ajyal will be the heart of a bigger event that will celebrate us all and take filmmakers to new heights, satisfying the needs and ambitions of everyone involved.”
Alremaihi reassured earlier that the core mission and programmes of the Doha Film Institute would remain unchanged, even as the festival evolves. “Nothing is changing in the sense that we are replacing Ajyal,” she clarified in an earlier statement.
“This is simply the next stage of our festival, the next stage of our industry, and the next stage of the Institute. We have always been evolving and adapting to the needs of the industry.”
The announcement of the rebranding was met with excitement, as it signals the festival’s expansion to cater to a broader international audience while preserving its cultural roots. The move is expected to provide more opportunities for filmmakers, creatives, and industry professionals to come together, creating collaboration and growth within the region’s cinematic landscape.
Alremaihi also took a moment to express her gratitude to the jurors who contributed to the festival’s success, acknowledging their participation in shaping the event.
“I want to thank our jurors, Mohaq, Hilal, Badr, and all of the jurors who live in Doha. Thank you to all of the international jurors who joined us. Thank you to our jurors in Gaza who participated this year, 90 of them,” she said.
“Inshallah [God willing], by next year, all of this war and genocide will be finished, and they will be here with us from Palestine, Lebanon, Sudan, Yemen, and from all Arab and Muslim countries.”
