Doha Film Festival - Ajyal Film Competition

Overview

The Doha Film Festival (DFF) is Qatar's premier film festival, presented annually by the Doha Film Institute (DFI). The 2026 edition runs November 19 to 27 in Doha, featuring four main competitions: International Feature Film, International Short Film, Ajyal Film Competition, and Made in Qatar. The festival champions bold storytelling and cultural exchange, bringing together filmmakers, audiences, and industry professionals from Qatar, the Arab region, and the international scene.

The Ajyal Film Competition is a flagship component of DFF, dedicated to young audiences and youth-focused storytelling. "Ajyal" means "generations" in Arabic, reflecting the competition's focus on films that resonate across cultures and generations. The Ajyal competition is curated with a jury of young people aged 16 to 25 as the intended audience, and selected films explore themes relevant to youth.

The Doha Film Institute, led by CEO Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, is one of the most active film organizations in the Arab world. Beyond the festival, DFI runs year-round grants, labs, and development programs that support Arab and international filmmakers. The institute's mission centers on creating spaces where stories challenge, connect, and inspire.

For filmmakers, DFF offers free submission with no entry fee, a Middle Eastern premiere requirement for the Ajyal competition, and access to one of the best-funded film ecosystems in the region. The 2026 edition opens submissions on May 10, 2026, for short films only across three categories.

Submission Details

All submissions are made through the Doha Film Institute platform. No entry fee is required to submit a film to the festival.

2026 edition key dates:

• Submissions open: May 10, 2026 (short films only)
• Submission deadline for International Short Film and Ajyal Short Film Competitions: August 1, 2026
• Submission deadline for Made in Qatar: September 1, 2026
• Festival dates: November 19 to 27, 2026

Eligibility requirements (Ajyal Film Competition):

• Submissions are open to short films only; feature films are selected by invitation only
• Films must hold Middle Eastern premiere status, excluding North Africa
• All genres are eligible for submission
• Short films must have a maximum runtime of 20 minutes (exceptions may be granted at the discretion of the programming committee)
• Feature-length selections must have a minimum runtime of 60 minutes
• Selected films will explore themes relevant to youth and be curated with the Ajyal Jury of young people aged 16 to 25 as the intended audience
• The writer, director, or producer must be connected to the submission

General eligibility requirements:

• Films submitted to the festival should not have been released or publicly exhibited in the State of Qatar prior to the festival's 2026 edition
• Films submitted to the festival should not have been publicly broadcast prior to the final date of the festival's 2026 edition, including via television, internet, video on demand, in-flight entertainment, or otherwise
• Films made in Qatar from 2025 will be considered for the 2026 edition
• All submissions must include a private link to the film
• English subtitles must appear on non-English-language films
• Foreign-language films must have English subtitles or closed captions
• Rough cuts or works-in-progress may be submitted to the Made in Qatar section only

Full entry requirements and guidelines are available on the DFF Film Submissions page and the official Rules and Regulations.

Key Sections

• International Feature Film Competition - feature films from around the world, selected by invitation. Part of the official film programme alongside the short film competitions.
• International Short Film Competition - short films from around the world competing for jury awards. Open submissions with an August 1, 2026 deadline. Narrative, documentary, and experimental works are all eligible.
• Ajyal Film Competition - short films exploring themes relevant to youth, curated with the Ajyal Jury of young people aged 16 to 25 as the intended audience. Open submissions with an August 1, 2026 deadline. Middle Eastern premiere required (excluding North Africa). Maximum runtime of 20 minutes.
• Made in Qatar - a dedicated showcase celebrating the creativity of filmmakers living in Qatar. Open submissions with a September 1, 2026 deadline. Films made in Qatar from 2025 are eligible. Rough cuts may be submitted to this section only.
• Ajyal Film Club - a year-round youth film engagement program connected to the Ajyal competition
• Out-of-Competition Slate - gala premieres, family screenings, and community events complementing the competitive sections

What Filmmakers Should Know

For Short Filmmakers

DFF 2026 accepts short films only through open submissions. Feature films are selected by invitation only, meaning short film filmmakers have a direct path to festival participation that feature filmmakers do not. The absence of an entry fee removes a financial barrier that exists at most competitive festivals.

The 20-minute maximum runtime for Ajyal short films is stricter than many festivals that allow up to 30 minutes. Verify your film's runtime before submitting. The programming committee may grant exceptions, but filmmakers should not rely on this.

The Middle Eastern premiere requirement for the Ajyal competition (excluding North Africa) means filmmakers should plan their festival circuit strategically. If a film has already screened elsewhere in the Middle East (outside North Africa), it is ineligible for the Ajyal competition. North African screenings do not affect eligibility.

For Qatari and Qatar-Based Filmmakers

The Made in Qatar section is the most direct path for local filmmakers. Films made in Qatar from 2025 are eligible for the 2026 edition. This section accepts rough cuts or works-in-progress, unlike the international categories. If selected, filmmakers must confirm by September 1, 2026, that the film will be complete with appropriate subtitles no later than October 20, 2026.

Film promotional materials should be submitted one week after the film is invited, including a trailer, film stills, press kit, director images, and a time-coded dialogue/subtitle list.

For International Filmmakers

DFF provides access to the Qatari film market and the broader Gulf audience. The Doha Film Institute is one of the most well-funded film organizations in the region, with connections to international film markets and festivals. The festival's out-of-competition slate includes gala premieres and community events that provide additional exposure beyond the competitive sections.

The festival does not have FIAPF accreditation. It is not an Academy Award qualifying festival. The festival does not have an attached film market in the traditional sense, though DFI's year-round industry activities, including grants and labs, provide market-adjacent opportunities.

Practical Considerations

Doha is accessible through Hamad International Airport (DOH), one of the Middle East's major aviation hubs with direct flights from cities worldwide. The festival venues are in Doha, with screenings and events at locations determined by DFI.

The submission process requires a private link to the film (streaming or download), not a public link. The festival has a dedicated space in the submission form for this information. The festival cannot guarantee review of updated screener links once a project is submitted.

Major Awards

The DFF 2026 programme includes jury awards across the competitive categories:

• International Feature Film Competition - jury awards for invited feature films
• International Short Film Competition - jury awards for submitted short films
• Ajyal Film Competition - jury awards for youth-focused short films, judged with the Ajyal Jury of young people aged 16 to 25
• Made in Qatar - awards for Qatari and Qatar-based filmmakers

Specific award names and cash prize amounts for the 2026 edition have not been publicly detailed. The festival's official materials indicate that selected works may be eligible for jury awards. Filmmakers should check the DFF website for current prize information as the festival approaches.

Festival History

The Ajyal Film Festival was founded in 2013 by the Doha Film Institute as Qatar's youth-focused film platform. The festival was established to engage young audiences with cinema and to support emerging Arab filmmakers through a program centered on youth storytelling and intergenerational dialogue.

Over its first decade, the festival evolved in scope and structure. The Doha Film Institute consolidated its festival activities under the Doha Film Festival (DFF) umbrella, with the Ajyal Film Competition becoming one of four main competition categories alongside International Feature, International Short, and Made in Qatar.

The Doha Film Institute was established with Qatar's sovereign wealth fund support and has become one of the most important film financing and cultural institutions in the Arab world. DFI's year-round activities include grants for Arab and international filmmakers, development labs, and industry programs that extend well beyond the annual festival.

The 2026 edition, scheduled for November 19 to 27, continues the festival's focus on bold storytelling and cultural exchange. DFI CEO Fatma Hassan Alremaihi has emphasized the institute's mission of creating spaces where stories challenge, connect, and inspire, with the 2026 edition expected to build on this legacy with a program of screenings, workshops, and networking opportunities.

See Also

To calculate the return on your festival submission spending, use the Festival ROI Calculator. For Arab cinema markets and distribution, see International Film Markets. For festival strategy and premiere planning, see Film Festival Strategy. For the Dubai International Film Festival, see Dubai International Film Festival. Submit through the DFF submission portal or read the full Rules and Regulations.