When the Doha Film Institute announced that Qumra 2026 would move online, it marked a significant shift for the region’s most anticipated gathering of emerging filmmakers. The 12th edition of the incubator program, originally scheduled as an in-person event at Doha’s Museum of Islamic Art, was adapted to a virtual format due to the ongoing regional conflict, running from March 27 through April 8.
More Than a Film Festival
For those unfamiliar, Qumra, which means “camera” in Arabic, is more than just a film festival. It’s a creative workshop, mentorship hub, and co-production market rolled into one, specifically designed to nurture first- and second-time filmmakers. Over the years, it has become an essential springboard for emerging talent across the Middle East and North Africa.
This Year’s Standout Projects
This year’s lineup doesn’t disappoint. The program features 49 projects from 39 countries, 27 feature films, nine series, and 13 shorts spanning fiction, documentary, and experimental formats. The majority, 43 projects, come from MENA filmmakers, while 15 are led by Qatar-based directors, including ten by Qatari nationals.
Among the standouts: Egyptian director Marouan Omara and Tom Rosenberg’s “The Missing Planet,” which follows a Cairo paramedic searching for his wife through dreams sent from the future by his grieving daughter. Lebanese filmmaker Emilien Awada traces his parents’ secret wartime letters in “Onions to Forget the Past,” uncovering a family history shaped by Lebanon’s divisions. And in “Reset,” Qatar-based director Dhoha Abdelsattar captures 12-year-old Noura’s first encounter with loss when her Tamagotchi dies—a small but profound confrontation with change.
Adapting Without Compromising
The shift to virtual might feel like a compromise, but it’s not without precedent. Qumra ran online from 2020 to 2022 before returning to in-person programming. This year’s digital format focuses primarily on private one-on-one mentorship sessions, ensuring that filmmakers still receive the tailored support that defines the program.
Originally, industry heavyweights like Diego Luna, Gael García Bernal, Alice Diop, Faouzi Bensaïdi, and Gustavo Santaolalla were set to appear as “Qumra Masters,” mentors who give masterclasses and guide participants. While the format has changed, CEO Fatma Hassan Alremaihi emphasized that the institute’s commitment remains unwavering: “Our priority remains to ensure that filmmakers and their projects continue to benefit from meaningful exchange, mentorship, and connection.”
A Track Record That Speaks Volumes
And the track record speaks for itself. Last year’s edition supported Iraqi director Hasan Hadi’s “The President’s Cake,” which went on to win the Caméra d’Or at Cannes and was shortlisted for Best International Feature at the 2026 Academy Awards. Other Qumra alumni include Erige Sehiri’s “Promised Sky,” which opened Cannes’ Un Certain Regard, and Suzannah Mirghani’s “Cotton Queen,” which debuted in Venice.
For now, Qumra adapts, as it has before. The stories remain urgent, the filmmakers determined, and the institute resolute. In a region where cinema has long served as a mirror and a megaphone, that continuity matters, even when delivered through a screen instead of across a room.
