DFI Cinema
Schedule
- Thu Aug 31, 07:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
DFI Cinema is presented in partnership with several organisations, including Katara, the Museum of Islamic Art, Qatar Museums and Aspire Park. Programming includes contemporary independent cinema, filmmaker retrospectives, classic films and a regular presentation of works by Qatari and Gulf filmmakers.
Upcoming Screenings:
Indie Indonesia
A Year of Culture Film Series
In our compelling summer series, we are delighted to present three films by emerging and established filmmaking talent from Indonesia that bridge the divide between commercial and independent cinema.
The showcase is part of the Qatar-Indonesia 2023 Year of Culture, which is an annual programme developed to deepen understanding between nations through mutual exchanges of arts, culture, heritage, and sports.
- Thursday, 31 August 2023 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Before, Now & Then
Directed by: Kamila Andini
A woman finds refuge in a second marriage to a wealthy man, but her existence remains fragile as she navigates his patriarchal values and penchant for taking mistresses…Read more
- Friday, 1 September 2023 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Galang
Directed by: Adriyanto Dewo
After leaving and losing his sister in a riot that occurs at an underground music concert, a boy tries to join the group to find reasons and answers for his guilt…Read more
- Saturday, 2 September 2023 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Mecca, I’m Coming
Directed by: Jeihan Angga
Eddy tries to prove to Eni’s father that he’s worth it to be Eni’s husband by going hajj to Mecca. But something along the way makes the journey have its obstacles…Read more
Past Screenings:
Stories of Strength
World Refugee Day Screenings
The United Nations ‘World Refugee Day’ is a powerful reminder of the resilience, strength, and courage displayed by millions of individuals around the world. It is a day that honours the countless refugees who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, or other dire circumstances.
In partnership with UNHCR and the Museum of Islamic Arts, Doha Film Institute is proud to present a series of short films that celebrate the unwavering spirit of refugees and recognise that behind every statistic lies a unique story—an individual who dreams of safety, peace, and a brighter future.
We hope you can join us for our screenings and an exhibition showcasing hand-crafted refugee items and portraits of the displaced. Together, we can raise awareness and support those seeking refuge, ensuring that no one is left behind in their pursuit of safety, security, and a place to call home.
- Tuesday, 20 June 2023 at 7:30 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Short Film Programme
Hope
Directed by: Mohammad Shaikhow
Hévi and Walat, a Kurdish-Syrian refugee couple in their thirties, meet a human trafficker. They try to cross an undefined border amid an endless environment…
Just Another Memory
Directed by: Mariam Al-Dhubhani
Amidst the ongoing war in Yemen, torn between being “safe” and “away”, weighed down by the ever-present mental and emotional baggage that still holds you back…
Rest In Piece
Directed by: Antoine Antabi
Midyan is forced to flee his war-torn home. Packing only a suitcase of his dearest possessions, he embarks on a perilous journey into the unknown…
Director, Editor, Pioneer: A Moufida Tlatli Film Series
2–5 June 2023
Museum of Islamic Art
Join us for a weekend celebration of the pioneering director and editor, Moufida Tlatli, one of the first female filmmakers from the Arab world to achieve worldwide acclaim. Born in Tunisia in 1947, Tlatli studied editing in Paris before returning to Tunis in 1972. Her name appears on the credits of some of the most influential Arab films from 1970 to 1990, including Michel Khleifi’s ‘Fertile Memory’ (1981), Nacer Khemir’s ‘Wanderers of the Desert’ (1984), and ‘Caméra Arabe’ (1987) by Ferid Boughhedir.
Tlatli was the first Arab woman to direct a full feature-length film in the Arab World. She came to international attention in 1994 when her debut film, ‘The Silences of the Palace’, won prizes at the Cannes Film Festival’s Golden Camera, the Golden Tanit of Carthage, the British Film Institute Awards’ Sutherland Trophy, and Toronto Film Festival’s International Critics’ Award. Her second film, ‘The Season of Men’, was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival and extended her reputation as a unique and powerful female voice in Arab filmmaking.
Tlatli’s groundbreaking films paved the way for Arab feminist and independent cinema—leaving a lasting impression on the Arab filmmaking industry and beyond.
- Friday, 2 June 2023 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Wanderers of the Desert (1984)
Directed by: Nacer Khemir
The first of Nacer Khemir’s highly-regarded Desert Trilogy, ‘Wanderers of the Desert’, follows a young teacher who arrives to take over a village school isolated in the…Read more
- Saturday, 3 June 2023 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
The Silences of the Palace (1994)
Directed by: Moufida Tlatli
Set in 1960s Tunisia, this film focuses on Alia, who visits the palace where her mother, Khedija, was once employed. The journey triggers unpleasant recollections about the…Read more
- Sunday, 4 June 2023 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
The Season of Men (2000)
Directed by: Moufida Tlatli
The gulf between men and women in Tunisia, political, psychological, and physical, is explored in this downbeat drama. A woman and her two daughters return to the female community on the island of Djerba from Tunis, where her husband works….Read more
- Monday, 5 June 2023 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Fertile Memory (1981)
Directed by: Michel Khleifi
Lyrically blending both documentary and narrative elements, the film skillfully crafts a portrait of two Palestinian women whose individual struggles both define and transcend the politics that have torn apart their homes and their lives….Read more
Year of Culture Series
Qatar-USA 2021
Katara Drama Theatre
October 26-30, 2021
Free ticketed event (need to reserve in advance on dohafilminstitute.com)
Five Iconic films that helped shape the trajectory of American Independent Cinema as we know it today
- 7:00 PM on Tuesday, 26 October
Badlands
Directed by: Terrence Malick
A dramatization of the Starkweather-Fugate killing spree of the 1950s, in which a teenage girl and her twenty-something boyfriend slaughtered her entire family and several others in the Dakota badlands…Read more
- 7:00 PM on Wednesday, 27 October
Elephant Man
Directed by: David Lynch
A Victorian surgeon rescues a heavily disfigured man being mistreated by his “owner” as a side-show freak. Behind his monstrous façade, there is revealed a person of great intelligence and sensitivity. Based on the true story of Joseph Merrick (called John Merrick in the film), a severely deformed man in 19th century London…Read more
- 7:00 PM on Thursday, 28 October
Napoleon Dynamite
Directed by: Jared Hess
A listless and alienated teenager decides to help his new friend win the class presidency in their small western high school, while he must deal with his bizarre family life back home…Read more
- 7:00 PM on Friday, 29 October
Amreeka
Directed by: Charien Dabis
Eager to provide a better future for her son, Fadi, divorcée Muna Farah leaves her Palestinian homeland and takes up residence in rural Illinois — just in time to encounter the domestic repercussions of America’s disastrous war in Iraq. Now, the duo must reinvent their lives with some help from Muna’s sister, Raghda, and brother-in-law, Nabeel…Read more
- 7:00 PM on Saturday, 30 October
The Rider
Directed by: Chloe Zhao
Once a rising star of the rodeo circuit, and a gifted horse trainer, young cowboy Brady is warned that his riding days are over after a horse crushed his skull at a rodeo. In an attempt to regain control of his own fate, Brady undertakes a search for a new identity and what it means to be a man in the heartland of the United States…Read more
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Indie Hits
Doha Film Institute is delighted to present ‘Indie Hits’, a compelling selection of features and shorts that showcase the latest and greatest in American independent cinema from the festival circuit and beyond.
- Thursday, 21 October 2021 at 5:00 PM, Katara Drama Theatre
- Friday, 22 October 2021 at 8:00 PM, Katara Drama Theatre
Nine Days
Directed by: Edson Oda
Will spends his days in a remote outpost watching a live feed of people going about their lives, until one subject perishes, leaving a vacancy for a new life on earth. Soon, several candidates—unborn souls—arrive at Will’s to undergo tests determining their fitness, facing oblivion when they are deemed unsuitable…Read more
- Thursday, 21 October 2021 at 8:00 PM, Katara Drama Theatre
Minari
Directed by: Lee Isaac Chung
A tender and sweeping story about what roots us, ‘Minari’ follows a Korean-American family that moves to an Arkansas farm in search of their own American Dream. The family home changes completely with the arrival of their sly, foul-mouthed, but incredibly loving grandmother…Read more
- Friday, 22 October 2021 at 5:00 PM, Katara Drama Theatre
Feeling Through
Directed by: Doug Roland
A late-night encounter on a New York City street leads to a profound connection between a teen in need and a man who is Deaf-Blind…Read more
A Concerto is a Conversation
Directed by: Ben Proudfoot, Kris Bowers
The story of virtuoso pianist and film composer Kris Bowers as he tracks his family’s lineage through his 91-year-old grandfather from Jim Crow Florida to the Walt Disney Concert Hall…Read more
Dear Philadelphia
Directed by: Renee Maria Osubu
With the help of their family, friends, and faith, three fathers unravel the incomparable partnership of forgiveness and community in North Philadelphia…Read more
Two Balloons
Directed by: Mark C. Smith
Two adventurous lemurs navigate their airships across the beautiful sky to meet each other as agreed. But their plan is suddenly disrupted by an approaching storm…Read more
The Elephant’s Song
Directed by: Lynn Tomlinson
‘The Elephant’s Song’ tells the true and tragic tale of Old Bet, the first circus elephant in America, as recounted in song by her friend the old farm dog…Read more
Radiance
Directed by: Chialing Yang
A short, semi-autobiographical animation that uses a hand-drawn style to tell the story of a young girl who is coping with the loss of her much-beloved grandmother…Read more
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Contemporary Releases
The Doha Film Institute is delighted to present ‘Contemporary Releases’, a selection of the latest internationally and regionally acclaimed films. The series will include recent festival favourites, as well as the emerging new voices of DFI granted filmmakers.
- Thursday, 14 October 2021 at 7:00 PM, Katara Drama Theatre
- Friday, 15 October 2021 at 7:00 PM, Katara Drama Theatre
- Saturday, 16 October 2021 at 7:00 PM, Katara Drama Theatre
Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain
Directed by: Morgan Neville
An intimate, behind-the-scenes look at how an anonymous chef who lived his life unabashedly became a world-renowned cultural icon. From Academy Award-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville, this unflinching look at Bourdain…Read more
- Thursday, 5 March 2020 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
- Friday, 6 March 2020 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
- Saturday, 7 March 2020 at 4:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
143 Sahara Street
Directed by: Hassen Ferhani
Malika lives alone in the middle of the desert. There she runs a small restaurant serving two dishes, omelette or tomato omelette, to those who pass through like fleeting apparitions… Read more
- Thursday, 6 February 2020 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
- Friday, 7 February 2020 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
- Saturday, 8 February 2020 at 4:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Marona’s Fantastic Tale
Directed by: Anca Damian
Victim of an accident, a small female dog remembers her different masters she has unconditionally loved… Read more
PREMIERE SCREENING
- Thursday, 23 January 2020 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
- Friday, 24 January 2020 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
- Saturday, 25 January 2020 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Little Women
Directed by: Greta Gerwig
Jo March reflects back and forth on her life, telling the beloved story of the March sisters – four young women each determined to live life on their own terms… Read more
Doha Forum Special Screening
- Sunday, 15 December 2019 at 7:00 PM, The Fire Station Cinema
Lost in Lebanon
Directed by: Georgia Scott, Sophia Scott
Film screening followed by a Q&A session with the directors.
‘Lost in Lebanon’ gains access to unknown stories in a region that is on the fringes of devastation. Spending over a year in Lebanon, in Beirut and on the borders of Syria, this film tells the story… Read More
Ajyal Award Winners Screening
- Thursday, 5 December 2019 at 5:30 PM and 8:00 pm, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
You Will Die at Twenty
Directed by: Amjad Abu Alala
On the day of her firstborn’s naming ceremony, a mother seeks out a travelling holy man to bless her son Muzamel, but is instead told that the boy will die at the tender age of twenty… Read More
- Friday, 6 December 2019 at 5:30 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
For Sama
Directed by: Waad al-Kateab, Edward Watts
A love letter from a young mother to her daughter, the film tells the story of Waad al-Kateab’s life through five years of the uprising in Aleppo, Syria… Read More
- Friday, 6 December 2019 at 8:000 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
The Farewell
Directed by: Lulu Wang
In this darkly-comedic, yet uplifting tale, Chinese-born, American-raised Billi (Awkwafina) finds out that her “Nai-Nai” has tragically been diagnosed with lung cancer… Read More
- Saturday, 7 December 2019 at 5:30 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Short Film Programme
Ajyal Award Winners
- Saturday, 7 December 2019 at 8:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
1982
Directed by: Oualid Mouaness
As the academic year draws to a close at a school high in the mountains of Lebanon, eleven-year-old Wissam struggles to pluck up the courage to reveal his true feelings to classmate Joanna… Read More
Women in Film: An Indian Cinema Showcase
This programme seeks to highlight the distinct role of women within the history of Indian cinema. It showcases how progressively they became involved as much more than just symbols (whether as rebellious muses or objects of desire) but also as storytellers and directors within an evolving landscape. The programme aspires to involve the feminist and critical contributions to the writings of Indian cinema.
- Monday, 30 September 2019 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Screening is free of charge, but a ticket is required for admission.
Kaagaz Ke Phool
Directed by: Guru Dutt
Suresh Sinha, a famous director, discovers star potential in Shanti, a woman he stumbled into one rainy evening, and casts her as the lead in a film… Read More
- Monday, 14 October 2019 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
The Big City
Directed by: Satyajit Ray
Life at home changes when a house-wife from a middle-class, conservative family in Calcutta gets a job as a saleswoman… Read More
- Monday, 21 October 2019 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Mirch Masala
Directed by: Ketan Mehta
Mirch Masala is a powerpacked film on the power of the suppressor being upsurped by the courage of one woman, and how unity brings to her fight the grace of revolution!… Read More
- Saturday, 2 November 2019 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Khamoshi: The Musical
Directed by: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Joseph and Flavy are deaf and dumb couple living in Goan village. They give birth to Annie and happy she is able to hear and speak. Few years later they give birth to a son Sam, Annie’s life revolves around music. But things turn when their family runs into crisis Joseph mother Maria passes away followed by death of Sam… Read More
- Sunday, 3 November 2019 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Due to some unforeseen circumstances, tonight’s screening of Monsoon Wedding will be cancelled.
Monsoon Wedding
Directed by: Mira Nair
A stressed father, a bride-to-be with a secret, a smitten event planner, and relatives from around the world create much ado about the preparations for an arranged marriage in India… Read More
- Monday, 4 November 2019 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Water
Directed by: Deepa Mehta
The film examines the plight of a group of widows forced into poverty at a temple in the holy city of Varanasi. It focuses on a relationship between one of the widows, who wants to escape the social restrictions imposed on widows, and a man who is from the highest caste and a follower of Mahatma Gandhi… Read More
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Rhythm and Flow
‘Rhythm and Flow’ is a celebration and homage to movement and rhythm on camera.
- Wednesday, 18 September 2019 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Summer Interlude
Preceded by short film ‘Birds in the Earth’ directed by Marja Helander.
Directed by: Ingmar Bergman
A lonely woman recalls her first love thirteen years prior during a brief summer vacation… Read More
- Thursday, 19 September 2019 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
- Saturday, 21 September 2019 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
La La Land
Directed by: Damien Chazelle
While navigating their careers in Los Angeles, a pianist and an actress fall in love while attempting to reconcile their aspirations for the future… Read More
- Friday, 20 September 2019 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Dancer in the Dark
Directed by: Lars von Trier
An east European girl goes to America with her young son, expecting it to be like a Hollywood film… Read More
- Sunday, 22 September 2019 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
The Red Shoes
Preceded by short documentary ‘Ballet After Dark’ directed by B. Monét
Directed by: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
A young ballet dancer is torn between the man she loves and her pursuit to become a prima ballerina… Read More
- Monday, 23 September 2019 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Lil’ Buck: Real Swan
Preceded by short film ‘Birds in the Earth’ directed by Marja Helander.
Directed by: Louis Wallecan
Dancer Lil’ Buck grew up jookin and bucking on the streets of Memphis… Read More
Contemporary Releases
The Doha Film Institute is delighted to present ‘Contemporary Releases’, a selection of the latest internationally and regionally acclaimed films. The series will include recent festival favourites, as well as the emerging new voices of DFI granted filmmakers.
- Thursday, 29 August 2019 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
- Friday, 30 August 2019 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
- Saturday, 31 August 2019 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Yomeddine
Directed by: A.B. Shawky
Beshay – a man cured of leprosy – has never left the leper colony in the Egyptian desert where he has lived since childhood. Following the death of his wife, he finally decides to go in search of his roots. With his meager possessions strapped to a donkey cart, he sets out… Read More
- Wednesday, 24 July 2019 at 7:00 PM, Katara Drama Theatre
- Thursday, 25 July 2019 at 7:00 PM, Katara Drama Theatre
- Friday, 26 July 2019 at 4:00 PM & 7:00, Katara Drama Theatre
Long Day’s Journey into Night
A masterpiece of modern cinematography, ‘Long Day’s Journey into Night’ is a visually stunning 3D experience that will have you on the edge of your seats
Directed by: Gan Bi
Luo Hongwu returns to Kaili, the hometown from which he fled several years ago. He begins the search for the woman he once loved, and whom he has never been able to forget. She said her name was Wan Qiwen but never revealed her true identity… Read More
Indian Cinema – Summer Hits
To celebrate the ‘Qatar-India 2019 Year of Culture’, Doha Film Institute in partnership with Qatar Museums and the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, will be showcasing a number of exciting and genre-bending works from India’s freshest filmmaking voices. So be sure to join us at the Museum of Islamic Art in July to discover the latest and greatest in contemporary Indian cinema.
- Thursday, 4 July 2019 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
- Friday, 5 July 2019 at 4:00 PM & 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
- Saturday, 6 July 2019 at 4:00 PM & 7:00, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Village Rockstars
Directed by: Rima Das
In a small village in northeast India, 10-year-old Dhunu dreams of having her own rock band. Her vibrant spirit, imagination and self-assurance stand out in a world where girls are expected to be timid and submissive… Read More
- Thursday, 11 July 2019 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
- Friday, 12 July 2019 at 4:00 PM & 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
- Saturday, 13 July 2019 at 4:00 PM & 7:00, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota
Directed by: Vasan Bala
The story of a young boy, Surya, who was born with the rare condition of Congenital Insensitivity to pain, meaning he cannot feel pain—so he decides to learn martial arts in order to hunt down and catch criminals… Read More
- Thursday, 18 July 2019 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
- Friday, 19 July 2019 at 4:00 PM & 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
- Saturday, 20 July 2019 at 4:00 PM & 7:00, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Andhadun
Directed by: Sriram Raghavan
A visually impaired pianist’s world careens into a series of shocking twists after he unintentionally lands at the murder scene of a former film star… Read More
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Thematic Series – “In Search of Lost Time”
This program showcases tales of characters in search of lost time—be it time that has passed or still passing, or has yet to pass. Whether war-torn realities or a life-threatening sickness may strike them, these characters represent the fixtures of animators who want to keep searching for what once was, and what may come after.
- 18 April at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Alice
Directed by: Jan Svankamajer
In Czech director Jan Svankmajer’s surreal adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s classic children’s book, Alice follows her stuffed rabbit through a portal inside her dresser to be whisked away to Wonderland. While the White Rabbit, Mad Hatter and Cheshire Cat are still present, the familiar magical world and bizarre characters have undergone an unsettling transformation in the director’s…Read More
- 19 April at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
The Illusionist
Directed by: Sylvain Chomet
The Illusionist is one of a dying breed of stage entertainers. With emerging rock stars stealing his thunder in the late 1950s, he is forced to accept increasingly obscure assignments in fringe theatres, at garden parties and in bars and cafés. Then, while performing in a village pub off the west coast of Scotland, he encounters Alice, an innocent young girl, who will change his life forever…Read More
- 20 April at 4:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Masterclass with Scott Curtis
Talk will be held in ‘English’ only
Animation is filled with characters who cross borders. From Koko the Clown (Fleischer Brothers) and Alice in Cartoonland (Disney) in the 1920s to the cast of Who Framed Roger Rabbit (Robert Zemeckis, 1988) and Alice (Jan Švankmajer, 1988) and beyond, animated characters often act as avatars for our wish to cross between fantasy and reality, dream and waking life, past and present, or even life and death…Read More
- 20 April at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Weekends
Directed by: Trevor Jimenez
Nominated for an Oscar earlier this year, ‘Weekends’ is the story of a young boy shuffling between the homes of his recently divorced parents. Surreal, dream-like moments mix with the domestic realities of a broken-up family in this hand-animated film set in 1980’s Toronto.
Black Barbie
Directed by: Comfort Arthur
In this thoughtful animation, Comfort Arthur narrates her attempts to lighten her skin and look like the perfect light-toned African Barbie. The personal journey she embarks on causes her to question societal ideals of beauty and whether she can accept herself as she is.
Blind Vaysha
Directed by: Theodore Ushev
Vaysha is not like other young girls; her left eye sees only the past. Her right, only the future. Blinded by what was and tormented by what will be, she remains trapped between two irreconcilable temporalities. In this metaphoric tale of timeless wisdom and beauty, filmmaker Theodore Ushev reminds us of the importance of living in the present moment.
Wild Life
Directed by: Amanda Forbis, Wendy Tilby
This Oscar-nominated short tells the story of a dapper young remittance man who is sent from England to Alberta to attempt ranching in 1909. However, his affection for badminton, bird watching and liquor leaves him little time for wrangling cattle. It soon becomes clear that nothing in his refined upbringing has prepared him for the harsh conditions of the New World.
Sandburg’s Arithmetic
Directed by: Lynn Diana Smith
Carl Sandburg, beloved American poet, narrates this animated short film based on his poem “Arithmetic.” The film takes place in Sandburg’s home in Flat Rock, North Carolina, where we see children not only adding and multiplying, but also experiencing numbers as part of the living, breathing world.
Begone Dull Care
Directed by: Evelyn Lambart and Norman Mclaren
In this extraordinary short animation, Evelyn Lambart and Norman McLaren painted colours, shapes, and transformations directly on to their filmstrip. The result is a vivid interpretation, in fluid lines and colour, of jazz music played by the Oscar Peterson Trio.
Late Afternoon
Directed by: Louise Bagnall
Oscar-shortlisted short film ‘Late Afternoon’ uses hand-drawn digital animation to poignantly explore the internal landscape of a woman with memory loss.
The Street
Directed by: Caroline Leaf
This award-winning animation is a poignant interpretation of a short story by Montreal author Mordecai Richler. It makes a strong statement about how many families respond to their old and infirm members. In washes of watercolour and ink, filmmaker Caroline Leaf illustrates reactions to a dying grandmother, capturing family feelings and distilling them into harsh reality.
Contemporary Releases
The Doha Film Institute is delighted to present ‘Contemporary Releases’, a selection of the latest internationally and regionally acclaimed films. The series will include recent festival favourites, as well as the emerging new voices of DFI granted filmmakers.
- Thursday, 7 March 2019 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
- Friday, 8 March 2019 at 6:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
The Wild Pear Tree
Directed by: Nuri Bilge Ceylan
‘The Wild Pear Tree’ follows Sinan—an aspiring writer who returns home after college hoping to make enough money to publish his first novel. He wanders the town encountering old flames and obstinate gatekeepers, only to find his youthful ambition increasingly at odds with the deferred dreams of his gambling-addict father…Read More
- Friday, 25 January 2019 at 4:00 and 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
- Saturday, 26 January 2019 at 4:00 and 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
- Sunday, 27 January 2019 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Rojo
Directed by: Benjamin Naishtat
In the mid-seventies, a strange man arrives in a quiet provincial city. In a restaurant, without any apparent reason, he starts insulting Claudio, a renowned lawyer. The community supports the lawyer, and the stranger is humiliated and thrown out of the place…Read More
Russian Film Showcase
In celebration of Year of Culture Qatar – Russia 2018, the Doha Film Institute and Qatar Museums are proud to present ‘Russian Film Showcase”. The film programme highlights a selection of the most prominent masterpieces and classics of Soviet Union and Russian Cinema.
- 6 November at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
My Friend Ivan Lapshin
Directed by: Aleksei German
As a police detective in Stalinist Russia, Ivan Lapshin lives a life of extremes. At home in the communal flat he shares with other families, he is a kind,…Read More
- 13 November at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Come and See
Directed by: Elem Klimov
The invasion of a village in Byelorussia by German forces sends young Florya into the forest to join the weary Resistance fighters, against his family’s wishes…Read More
- 9 October at 6:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Battleship Potemkin
Directed by: Sergei Eisenstein
In the midst of the Russian Revolution of 1905, the crew of the battleship Potemkin mutiny against the brutal, tyrannical regime of the vessel’s officers…Read More
- 9 October at 8:30 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Alexander Nevsky
Directed by: Sergei Eisenstein, Dmitri Vasilyev
When German knights invade Russia, Prince Alexander Nevsky must rally his people to resist the formidable force…Read More
- 16 October at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
The Cranes are Flying
Directed by: Mikhail Kalatozov
Based on a play by V. Rusov, this film is a love story set during the early years of WWII. Widowed by the war, Tatyana Samoylova reluctantly marries her late …Read More
- 30 October at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Mirror
Directed by: Andrei Tarkovsky
In ‘Mirror’, Tarkovsky mixes historical footage and original poetry to illustrate the reminiscences of a dying man about his childhood during World War II…Read More
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Ajyal Film Series
Our Ajyal Film Series aims to keep the spirit of our annual Ajyal Film Festival alive throughout the year. ‘Ajyal’ means ‘generations’ in Arabic and we invite audiences of all ages and backgrounds to come and celebrate the power of cinema with us. As always, our family-friendly films will seek to spark curiosity, bring joy, create friendships, and empower the next generation.
In this instalment, we present the Made in Qatar short, ‘Walls’ by Nibu Vasudevan who will hold a short Q&A session following the screening, and Alfonso Cuarón’s family drama ‘A Little Princess’.
- 4 October at 6:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Walls
Directed by: Nibu Vasudevan
Followed by a Q&A session with Nibu Vasudevan
In a decaying world that has become nothing more than a trash heap, a race of skeleton-like, robotic creatures are engaged in a pointless…Read More
A Little Princess
Directed by: Alfonso Cuarón
A privileged, free-spirited young girl tries to adapt to life in a strict boarding school in this charming, critically acclaimed children’s fantasy. Read More
Magicians of the Light
Cinematographers are visionaries who manipulate light to make their imaginations a reality. The true masters produce iconic images that can redefine cinema. ‘Magicians of the Light’ is a series of five such films that showcase iconic works from cinematic mavericks who pushed the boundaries of the medium, leaving their legacy on cinematic history.
- September 19 at 6:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Life of Pi
Directed by: Ang Lee
After deciding to sell their zoo in India and move to Canada, Santosh and Gita Patel board a freighter with their sons and a few remaining animals…Read More
- September 20 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Sansho the Bailiff
Directed by: Kenji Mizoguchi
With an introduction by Richard Peña
A film of unparalleled beauty by the great Japanese Master Kenji Mizoguchi. While on a journey to visit their father,
a banished governor, Zushio and Anju are attacked,…Read More
- September 21 at 4:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
The Seventh Seal
Directed by: Ingmar Bergman
With an introduction by Richard Peña
When disillusioned Swedish knight Antonius Block returns home from the Crusades to find his country in the grips of the Black Death, he challenges Death to a chess match for his life…Read More
- September 21 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Days of Heaven
Directed by: Terrence Malick
With an introduction by Richard Peña
Visually and thematically, one of the most beautiful films ever made. ‘Days of Heaven’ is a screen poem about life in America at the turn of the century…Read More
- September 22 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Road to Perdition
Directed by: Sam Mendes
With an introduction by Richard Peña
Mike Sullivan (Tom Hanks) is an enforcer for powerful Depression-era Midwestern mobster John Rooney (Paul Newman). Rooney’s son, Connor (Daniel Craig), is …Read More
- September 22 at 4:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Masterclass with Richard Peña
In his inspiring masterclass, Richard Peña, Professor of Film Studies at Columbia University and Director of the New York Film Festival from 1988 to 2012, will offer…Read More
Contemporary Releases
The Doha Film Institute is delighted to present ‘Contemporary Releases’, a selection of the latest internationally and regionally acclaimed films. The series will include recent festival favourites, as well as the emerging new voices of DFI granted filmmakers.
- 13 September 2018 at 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
- 14 September 2018 at 3:00 PM, 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Searching
Directed by: Aneesh Chaganty
After his 16-year-old daughter goes missing, a desperate father breaks into her laptop to look for clues to find her…Read More
- 6 September 2018 at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
- 7 September 2018 at 4:30 PM and 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
The Rider
Directed by: Chloé Zhao
Visually stunning, emotionally arresting, and profoundly empathetic, ‘The Rider’ stars Brady Jandreau as a once-rising star of the rodeo circuit warned that his competition days are over after a…Read More
Fathers Through the Lens
The Doha Film Institute is delighted to present ‘Fathers Through the Lens’, a selection of acclaimed films from around the world that celebrate paternal relationships through cinema.
- 26 April 2018 at 7 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Wajib
Directed by: Annemarie Jacir
Film screening followed by a Q&A session with the filmmakers:
Annemarie Jacir – Director
Ossama Bawardi – Producer
Mohammad Bakri – Actor
Shadi returns to his hometown to help his father hand-deliver his sister’s wedding invitations. He has spent the last several years abroad and there is little he misses about this place he left a long time ago…Read More
- 27 April 2018 at 7 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Le Grand Voyage
Directed by: Ismaël Ferroukhi
Out of filial duty and a sense of adventure, Reda, a young French man, agrees to accompany his elderly Moroccan father on the hajj. The only catch: the journey from France to Saudi Arabia will be by car…Read More
- 28 April 2018 at 4 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Directed by: Wes Anderson
Based on the beloved book by Roald Dahl, this is the story of Mr. and Mrs. Fox who live an idyllic home life with their son Ash and visiting young nephew Kristopherson. But after 12 years, the bucolic existence proves too much for Mr Fox’s wild animal instincts…Read More
- 28 April 2018 at 7 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Like Father, Like Son (Soshite Chichi Ni Naru)
Directed by: Hirokazu Kore-Eda
Ryota is a successful Tokyo architect who works long hours to provide for his wife, Midori and six-year-old son, Keita. But when a blood test reveals Keita and another baby were switched at birth…Read More
- 29 April 2018 at 7 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
The Return (Vozvrashchenie)
Directed by: Andrey Zvyagintsev
Inseparable, if occasionally quarrelsome, young Ivan and his elder brother Andrei are shocked and excited when their father, who has not been home for 12 years and whom the boys only know from a faded photograph…Read More
Ajyal Film Series
Our new Ajyal Film Series aims to keep the spirit of our annual Ajyal Youth Film Festival alive throughout the year. ‘Ajyal’ means ‘generations’ in Arabic and we invite audiences of all ages and backgrounds to come and celebrate the power of cinema with us. As always, our family-friendly films will seek to spark curiosity, bring joy, create friendships, and empower the next generation.
- 12 April 2018 at 6 PM, Katara Drama Theatre
Paper Planes
Preceded by the Made in Qatar short ‘Dana’s Kite’ and a Q&A session with the director Noor Al Nasr.
Directed by: Robert Connolly
When 11-year-old Dylan discovers his exceptional talent for creating paper planes, he becomes obsessed with his new hobby and eventually competes at the national level in Sydney…Read More
Dana’s Kite
Directed by: Noor Al-Nasr
Dana is playing with her kite on the beach at the water’s edge while her brother Ahmed sits on the sand messaging his friends on his mobile phone. She tries to get his attention but he’s too busy to see the amazing shell she has found…Read More
Special Screening
The Doha Film Institute, in partnership with the Embassy of Canada to Qatar and the Qatari Businesswomen’s Association, is delighted to present ‘Dream, Girl’, a documentary showcasing the stories of inspiring and ambitious female entrepreneurs.
- 26 March at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Dream, Girl
SOLD OUT
The screening is followed by a panel discussion session.
Free – first come, first served
Directed by: Erin Bagwell
Through in-depth interviews and access to the daily lives of five incredible entrepreneurs, ‘Dream, Girl’ paints a complex picture of what it means to be a leader…Read More
Contemporary Releases
The Doha Film Institute is delighted to present ‘Contemporary Releases’, a selection of the latest internationally and regionally acclaimed films. The series will include recent festival favourites, as well as the emerging new voices of DFI granted filmmakers.
- 22 March at 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
- 23 March at 4:30 PM and 7:00 PM, Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Faces Places
Directed by: JR, Agnès Varda
‘Faces Places’ is a lively, fun, stirring tribute to art and its ability to touch people and bring souls together… Read More
- 15 February at 7:00 PM
- 16 February at 4:30 PM and 7:00 PM
Radiance
Directed by: Naomi Kawase
Misako is a struggling writer hired to create film audio descriptions for the visually impaired. At a screening, she meets Nakamori, an older photographer who is slowly losing his eyesight. He offers to help Misako with her scripts, and together they learn to see the subtly radiant world that is invisible to most eyes… Read More
- Thursday, 25 January, 7:00 PM
- Friday, 26 January, 4:30 PM
- Friday, 26 January, 7:00 PM
The Other Side of Hope
Directed by: Aki Kaurismäki
‘The Other Side of Hope’ follows two people searching for a place to call home. Displaced Syrian Khaled (Sherwan Haji) lands in Helsinki as a stowaway; meanwhile, middle-aged salesman Wikström (Sakari Kuosmanen) leaves behind his wife and job and buys a conspicuously unprofitable seafood restaurant. After Khaled is denied asylum, he decides not to return to Aleppo, and the paths of the two men cross fortuitously… Read More
In association with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Qatar, the Doha Film Institute proudly presents ‘What Tomorrow Brings’ in honour of International Human Rights Day.
- Saturday, 9 December, 7:00 PM
What Tomorrow Brings
Directed by: Beth Murphy
‘What Tomorrow Brings’ is a feature documentary that tells the story of the first all-girls’ school in a small Afghan village. It traces the interconnected stories of students, teachers, village elder