Eight DFI-supported films selected for 2026 Venice International Film Festival

The Doha Film Institute (DFI) has announced that eight of its supported films will be featured at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival in 2026. This selection reaffirms the Institute's dedication to promoting independent filmmakers and their distinctive perspectives from the Arab world and beyond. The Venice festival, scheduled from September 2 to 12 at Lido di Venezia, will host the DFI-supported films across four different programmes.

Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Chief Executive Officer of DFI, expressed her belief in the importance of giving bold filmmakers the necessary support to bring their unique stories to the world stage. At a time when diverse voices and authentic narratives are more crucial than ever, cinema plays a vital role in preserving memory and fostering empathy among audiences.

Four of the selected DFI-supported films will compete in the Orizzonti Competition, which highlights films representing new aesthetic and expressive trends in international cinema. These films include 'House of the Wind' by Bernard Auguste Kouemo Yanghu and 'Conversation with the Sea' by Muayad Alayan.

Two other DFI-supported films, 'Faux Bijoux' directed by Jessy Moussallem and 'Wolfmother' directed by Ismael El Iraki, have been chosen to participate in the Venice Gap-Financing Market. This market facilitates connections between filmmakers and potential collaborators or financiers to help complete their projects.

Additionally, four films supported by DFI will be part of the Final Cut programme. This industry initiative supports films in post-production and connects filmmakers with international industry partners. The selected films for Final Cut are 'A Quarter to Thursday' by Sofia Djama, 'Eldorado: The Taste of the South' by Alaa Eddine Aljem, 'Occupational Hazards' by Bassel Ghandour, and 'Plague' by Youssef Chebbi.

The inclusion of these eight DFI-supported films at the Venice International Film Festival underscores the Institute's ongoing commitment to investing in filmmakers throughout their creative journeys, from development and financing to international exposure. Through its funding, talent development, and industry initiatives, DFI is actively championing filmmakers, contributing to a more diverse, sustainable, and interconnected global film ecosystem.

To date, the Institute has supported over 1000 films from more than 85 countries, reinforcing the pathways for independent cinema to reach audiences worldwide.