The Doha Film Festival 2026 announced today the appointment of Japanese filmmaker Naomi Kawase as president of the jury for its International Feature Film Competition. She will lead an exceptional group of cinematic voices whose work challenges prevailing conventions, transcends geographical boundaries and highlights profound human experiences.
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Joining Kawase on the jury are French-Tunisian actor Adam Bessa, influential Tunisian producer Dora Bouchoucha, visionary Italian documentary filmmaker Gianfranco Rosi, and award-winning Palestinian filmmaker and artist Kamal Aljafari. The jury members represent a wide range of artistic excellence in narrative filmmaking, documentaries and acting, united by their commitment to supporting distinctive voices and ambitious storytelling.
The jury will select the winning films from among 15 international entries in the competition, showcasing bold and distinctive voices from the Arab world, Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas.
Fatma Hassan Al Remaihi, CEO of the Doha Film Institute and director of the Doha Film Festival, said: “Independent cinema is the medium that gives space and a voice to the most vital, courageous and transformative stories of our time. It is therefore our responsibility to protect creative freedom in challenging prevailing conventions, bring overlooked perspectives to the screen, and build bridges between cultures.
“We are delighted to welcome friends of the Institute who share our vision and have dedicated their lives to nurturing and supporting independent cinema. Their combined expertise and artistic integrity embody the spirit of the Institute and the festival, which champions authentic voices, creates space for courageous ideas, and works to ensure that powerful stories reach audiences around the world.”
Naomi Kawase was born in and is based in Nara, Japan. She is widely acclaimed for films that blend fiction and documentary in an intimate exploration of the human experience. In 1997, she became the youngest recipient of the Caméra d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival for her debut feature, Suzaku. She later won the festival’s Grand Prix in 2007 for The Mourning Forest.
Adam Bessa has built an international career spanning French, European and American productions. He has earned acclaim for performances marked by emotional intensity and precise character portrayals.
Dora Bouchoucha is one of the most influential film producers in the Arab world and a longstanding advocate for emerging filmmakers. In 1995, she founded the Tunisian production company Nomadis Images. She has produced and co-produced award-winning fiction and documentary films, including Red Satin, As I Open My Eyes, Dear Son, Behind the Mountains, Souad and Aisha Can’t Fly Away.
Gianfranco Rosi is the only documentary filmmaker to have won both the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. Known for his observational style, he creates intimate portraits of communities shaped by complex social and political realities. He often works independently as the cinematographer on his films.
Palestinian filmmaker and artist Kamal Aljafari has developed a distinctive cinematic practice exploring memory, history, identity and the politics of images. He studied at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne and has taught at The New School in New York and the German Film and Television Academy in Berlin. He has also held a Radcliffe Fellowship at Harvard University.
Through its International Feature Film Competition, the Doha Film Festival continues to honour filmmakers who expand cinema’s artistic horizons and offer fresh perspectives on screen. The jury’s collective expertise reflects the festival’s commitment to an independent film culture that values creativity, cultural exchange and cinema’s power to bring about change.
