About Doha Film Institute Podcast - Powered by afikra
The Doha Film Institute Podcast is an interview series powered by afikra, that celebrates the dynamic and evolving world of cinema and offers a comprehensive look at the powerful role storytelling plays in preserving heritage and fostering dialogue across communities. As an independent, not-for-profit cultural organization, the Doha Film Institute (DFI) is dedicated to nurturing authentic voices, supporting filmmakers, and building a thriving film culture in Qatar and beyond. We’ll go behind the scenes to explore conversations across film, music, and cultural expression, from intimate interviews to thought-provoking panel discussions. Join us as we speak with filmmakers, composers, and key cultural voices who are shaping the region’s creative landscape, and discover the projects and ideas driving artistic collaboration and exchange.
About DFI
The Doha Film Institute is an independent, not-for-profit cultural organization that champions powerful storytelling and meaningful creative exchange, playing a central role since its founding in 2010 in shaping a vibrant film culture in Qatar and the wider region. The Institute supports filmmakers at every stage of their journey by providing funding, training, and mentorship, while offering year-round programs that connect diverse talent with the tools, knowledge, and networks needed to thrive in the global film industry. Beyond filmmaking, DFI fosters a culture of curiosity and appreciation for cinema, building a creative community rooted in collaboration and shared experience, while contributing to the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030 by strengthening the country’s cultural and creative economy and positioning Doha as a global hub for storytelling and cinematic innovation.
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Identity, Sound & the Geography of Expression | Yasiin Bey, Jara, Oddisee & Nemahsis
Global icons and independent pioneers Yasiin Bey, Jara, Oddisee, and Nemahsis explore identity, sound, and the fight for artistic autonomy. From the project windows of Brooklyn to the basements of Maryland, these artists reveal how the little rooms of their youth forged voices, powerful enough to fill global stages. In this deep dive, they confront the industry's complex relationship with visual representation, the radical act of independence, and the grounding influence of heritage and faith. The conversation further addresses the necessity of resisting institutional dominance to maintain creative control. Ultimately, these reflections emphasize that true artistic success is found in staying connected to one's earnest internal voice regardless of external pressures.
27 May 2026
Navigating Family Trauma and Libyan History | Jihan K, DIrector of "My Father and Qaddafi"
The director of award-winning documentary, My Father and Qaddafi (بابا والقذافي), Jihan K, explores in this episode the nine-year creative journey of reclaiming a family narrative after the 1993 kidnapping of her father, Mansour Kikhia, a former Libyan Foreign Minister turned peaceful opposition leader. Jihan shares a nuanced perspective on her childhood in exile, moving beyond a standard investigative lens to build a collage of Libya using intimate family archives and interviews with a dying generation. The conversation delves into the strength of the director's mother—who led a 19-year international search while nurturing a joyful home—and the challenge of defining "Libyan-ness" for a diaspora generation seeking an identity separate from politics or dictatorship. By humanizing historical figures and bridging a generational fracture, Jihan offers a tender, sophisticated look at memory, loss, and the moral responsibility of preserving a country’s history.
20 May 2026
Reflections on 15 years of Global South Cinema | Zaina Bseiso
Behind the scenes of "Atlas of Cinematic Affinities", filmmaker and curator Zaina Bseiso reveals the obsessive process of distilling 15 years of the Doha Film Institute (DFI) into a visual history that feels more like a sensory experience than a book. We dive into the "ships that keep on sailing" metaphor which guided the book's design, moving away from dry chronologies to explore how 8,000 pages of raw filmmaker artifacts, from 3:00AM script scribbles to personal family portraits, build a collective map of regional and global cinema. Bseiso breaks down the miracle of independent filmmaking in the region, the DFI’s grassroots impact on local film acumen, and why the most powerful cinematic histories are built on shared affinities rather than just data points. From the haptic choice of tracing paper to matching the gaze of characters across pages, this conversation explores what it truly means to capture the motion, silence, and perseverance of a medium that refuses to stand still.
13 May 2026
Authentic Frequencies From the Arab World | Moza Al Is’haq, Dana Al Fardan & Dana Al Meer
The regional music industry is entering a new era of global influence. Moza Al Is’haq, Dana Al Fardan, and Dana Al Meer provide an inside look at how Qatar is positioning itself as a world-class hub for content creation and musical excellence. They discuss cultural influences in their work, the responsibility of artists as storytellers, and how creative spaces can nurture emerging voices. From the technical mastery required to produce a multi-song FIFA World Cup album to the preservation of traditional seafaring heritage within symphonic compositions, these leaders are defining a unique Arab voice for the international stage.
6 May 2026
The Mechanics of Influence | Ahmed Shihab-Eldin & Rahma Zein
"We are all maneuvering in life normally, but our hearts are very much broken."
Journalists Ahmed Shihab-Eldin and Rahma Zein sit down with moderator, cartoonist Khalid Albaih for an essential conversation on the weight of narrative in a time of systemic erasure. We explore the role of journalism, storytelling, and cultural expression in shaping narratives around resistance, identity, and the shared realities of Palestine and Sudan. From the front lines of global media to the personal ripple effect of a single headline, the discussion delves into the reasons we tell stories, beyond informing others, to make sense of the world for ourselves. The speakers reflect on their experiences navigating media outlets, the challenges of representation, and the ways journalism and creative work intersect with advocacy.
“It's a miracle that any film exists, but a film made during conflict, even more so.” We sit down with filmmaker, writer, and academic Suzannah Mirghani to discuss her latest film, Cotton Queen, and the harrowing reality of creating art while Sudan faces an ongoing genocide. Suzannah reveals the heartbreaking journey of a production displaced by war, where the cast and crew were forced to flee to Egypt to find safety and a space to continue their work. We explore the "miracle" of Sudanese cinema, a movement that refuses to be erased despite the systemic destruction of the country's tangible and intangible heritage. Suzannah discusses how storytelling becomes a vital act of resistance, preserving Sudanese dialects and histories that are currently under threat of being lost forever.
22 Apr 2026
In Every Frame, A Rhythm | Suad Bushnaq, Ben Frost, & Gustavo Santaolalla
We explore the role of music in shaping cinematic storytelling, and how rhythm, sound, and silence make up an essential language across different film traditions. Our guests Suad Bushnaq, Ben Frost, and Gustavo Santaolalla reflect on their creative processes, the relationship between image and sound, and how they approach composing for diverse narratives and emotional landscapes. They also discuss collaboration with directors, cultural influences in their work, and the evolving role of film scores in contemporary cinema.
13 Apr 2026
Past, Present and Future of DFI | Fatma Hassan Al Remaihi
We explore the history, mission, and future of Arab cinema in Qatar and the wider region in the first episode of the Doha Film Institute Podcast, powered by afikra. Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, CEO of the Doha Film Institute, joins us to discuss the institute’s evolution from the Doha Tribeca Film Festival to a year-round platform supporting filmmakers through grants, mentorship, workshops, and networking events like Qumra. She reflects on DFI’s role in supporting storytellers, fostering a collaborative internal culture, and creating spaces for underrepresented perspectives. The conversation also delves into the resilience of the Arab film industry in the face of regional and global challenges, the strategic choices behind festival programing, and the institute’s long-term vision for a self-sustaining film ecosystem.
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