Naomi Kawase will lead Doha Film Festival’s main competition jury
Doha Film Festival has named Naomi Kawase to lead the main competition jury at its second edition, running 19–27 November in Qatar’s capital. Adam Bessa, Dora Bouchoucha, Gianfranco Rosi and Kamal Aljafari complete the panel. The Japanese filmmaker previously mentored emerging directors through the Doha Film Institute’s Qumra programme. The festival has expanded from the youth and family-focused Ajyal event into a broader international gathering.
Arts··Evening
Five jurors will assess the international competition
Japanese director Naomi Kawase will chair the main competition jury at the second Doha Film Festival, taking place in Qatar’s capital from 19 to 27 November. The five-member panel also includes French-Tunisian actor Adam Bessa, Tunisian producer Dora Bouchoucha, Italian documentary filmmaker Gianfranco Rosi and Palestinian filmmaker Kamal Aljafari.[1], [2]
The jurors bring experience in acting, production, fiction and documentary filmmaking. Bessa’s credits include Ghost Trail, while Rosi directed Fire at Sea and Aljafari made With Hasan in Gaza. Doha Film Institute chief executive Fatma Hassan Alremaihi described the group as friends of the institution who have worked to nurture independent cinema and help original voices reach audiences.[1]
Kawase returns after mentoring emerging directors
Kawase already has a relationship with the Doha Film Institute, which organises the festival. In 2016 she joined Qumra, the institute’s programme supporting emerging filmmakers, as a mentor. She lives and works in her hometown of Nara in Japan. Her jury appointment follows that earlier involvement in the institute’s development work with younger directors.[1]
Her debut feature Moe no Suzaku won the Caméra d’Or at Cannes in 1997. Mogari no Mori and Hikari also received Cannes awards, in 2007 and 2017 respectively. Hotaru won the FIPRESCI critics’ award at Locarno in 2000. Kawase served on the Cannes competition jury in 2013, and her feature Yakushima’s Illusion competed at Locarno in 2025.[1]
The expanded festival retains its institutional roots
Doha Film Festival developed from Ajyal, the institute’s event for youth and family audiences, into a broader international programme. Its second edition will open in competition with The Station, a drama by Yemeni-Scottish filmmaker Sara Ishaq. The previously announced opening film examines the effects of Yemen’s civil war on the country.[1]
The best narrative film award carries 75,000 dollars, while the documentary prize is worth 50,000 dollars. Artistic achievement receives 45,000 dollars and the gender-neutral performance award 15,000 dollars. Alongside the Doha Film Institute, festival partners include Katara, Media City Qatar’s Film Committee and Visit Qatar.[1]
