Doha Film Institute (DFI) has announced the recipients of its highly anticipated 2025 Spring Grants cycle, reaffirming its role as the region’s longest-serving and most influential film development initiative. Supporting 45 diverse projects by Arab and international filmmakers from over 35 countries, this cycle continues DFI’s mission to amplify authentic storytelling and cultivate bold, independent voices worldwide.
Since inception, the DFI Grants programme has backed more than 950 films from over 75 countries, nurturing first- and second-time directors through biannual funding rounds each Spring and Fall. This season’s recipients span feature narratives, documentaries, shorts, TV and web series—highlighting DFI’s inclusive support across genres and formats.
The 2025 Spring cycle showcases remarkable diversity: 16 projects led by women filmmakers, 12 returning grantees, and five projects by Qatari and Qatar-based talent. Notably, this year also welcomes powerful perspectives from Yemen and Sudan, with stories told through women’s voices, alongside strong Gulf representation from Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Selected projects explore deeply human themes—from a Baghdad actor’s struggle under Saddam Hussein’s rule (Madness and Honey Days), to poetic journeys of identity and resilience (Renoir, Imagine Me Like a Country of Love). Standout Qatari projects include Sari & Amira, a mythic narrative of survival set in Wadi Sakheema, and The Maker: A Journey of Bisht, chronicling a foreigner’s discovery of cultural heritage in Qatar.
Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, CEO of Doha Film Institute, commented:
“Our Grants programme was founded to offer tangible support for original stories and important voices from around the world. These 45 films reflect the bold, diverse, and deeply human stories that challenge convention and are shaping the future of cinema. In a time marked by conflict, displacement and uncertainty, these stories offer urgently needed perspectives and affirm the role of film as a witness, a bridge and a call to empathy.”
Beyond supporting production and post-production, the DFI Grants cycle serves as a catalyst for international collaboration, bridging talent from the Middle East with filmmakers from Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas. The 2025 selection includes projects from Japan, South Africa, India, the Netherlands, Russia, and beyond—reflecting DFI’s commitment to cinematic excellence without borders.
With over a decade of empowering filmmakers and bringing untold stories to the global screen, the Doha Film Institute continues to solidify Qatar’s position as a cultural hub and creative catalyst. The 2025 Spring Grants cycle exemplifies the Institute’s enduring dedication to supporting visionary filmmaking that resonates locally and globally—stories that inspire dialogue, understanding and change.
For more information, visit: www.dohafilminstitute.com
