Doha: Doha Film Festival (DFF) 2025 opened tonight with the acclaimed film The Voice of Hind Rajab by Kaouther Ben Hania, setting a powerful tone for Qatar's bold showcase of global cinema presented by Doha Film Institute. During the opening ceremony, Chairperson of DFI HE Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani presented acclaimed actors Jamal Soliman and Golshifteh Farahani with the DFF 2025 Creative Excellence Award for their outstanding artistic contribution to storytelling. According to Qatar News Agency, other dignitaries attending the opening night ceremony included HE Chairman of Qatar Fund for Development Sheikh Thani bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, President of the Arab Museum of Modern Art HE Sheikh Hassan bin Mohammad bin Ali Al-Thani, HE Minister of Education and Higher Education Lolwah bint Rashid bin Mohammed Al Khater, HE Minister of State and President of Qatar National Library Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, HE Managing Director of Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy Has san Al Thawadi, and HE Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Chairperson of Visit Qatar among others Saad Al Kharji. Joining them on the red carpet were members of the opening film's creative team and special guests, including director Kaouther Ben Hania, producers Nadim Cheikhrouha and Odessa Rae, actors Saja Kilani, Amer Hlehel, Motaz Malhees, and Clara Khoury, Hind Rajab's mother Wissem Hamada, and representatives of the Palestine Red Crescent Society led by President Dr. Younis Al Khatib and Director General Khaled Abu Ghoush. The event also included Nisreen Jiries Eid Qawas, Rana H. I. Faqih, Omar Ahmed Mohammed Alqam, Mahdi M. N. Jamal, Nibal Farsakh, and Mohammad Ayyad, who were portrayed in the film. Additional special guests in attendance included creative luminaries and global change makers such as Jim Sheridan, Mohammed Al Ibrahim Kamal Aljafari, Elia Sulieman, Yasmine Hamdan, Brigitte Lacombe, Rithy Panh, Dhafer L'abidine, Dana Al Fardan, Mehdi Hasan, Elyanna, Dana Al Meer, Akira Yamaoka, Dorra Zarouk, Engin Altan Duzyatan, Rahma Zein, Ayca Aysin Turan, Jassim Al Nabhan among others. Addressing the opening ceremony, Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Festival Director and CEO of DFI, emphasized the milestone year for Doha Film Institute, celebrating 15 years of commitment to a vision now realized. She highlighted DFI's role in shaping the global film industry and its promise to ensure that every voice matters and that art will always have a home in Qatar. With prizes totaling over $300,000, DFF features four main competition sections, special screenings, music performances, Geekdom, and other community initiatives. The festival's original theme song is composed by Qatar's celebrated contemporary composer and songwriter Dana Al Fardan in collaboration with Katara Studios and Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra. Key Partners of Doha Film Festival include Katara, Film Committee at Media City Qatar, and Visit Qatar. The festival will transform iconic locations across Doha, including Katara Cultural Village, Msheireb Downtown Doha, and the Museum of Islamic Art, into vibrant hubs of cultural exchange, reaffirming art's power. For more information, visit www.dohafilm.com.