The Doha Film Festival announced its 15-title competition lineup, featuring predominantly Middle Eastern premieres with a particular focus on films directed by women. Seven of the competition entries come from female filmmakers, according to the festival organizers.
Sara Ishaq's "The Station" anchors the lineup. The Yemeni-Scottish filmmaker's drama examines the impact of Yemen's civil war on the country and serves as a Middle East premiere at the festival.
The competition emphasizes regional cinema, with most selections making their Middle Eastern premiere at the event. The festival's programming reflects a deliberate curatorial choice to elevate female directors and stories from the Middle East, aligning with broader industry efforts to showcase underrepresented voices in international film.
The complete details of all 15 competition titles and their directors remain partially undisclosed in available reporting, though the festival has highlighted its commitment to balancing geographic representation with gender parity in its selection process. The festival's decision to prioritize women filmmakers and Middle Eastern productions marks a notable programming strategy for the event.