Doha: The Film Committee at Media City Qatar was officially launched during the Doha Film Festival 2025, marking a transformative moment in Qatar's emergence as a global hub for film, television, and creative innovation.
According to Qatar News Agency, the Film Committee, in collaboration with the Doha Film Institute, initiated three high-impact Industry Days as a core component of the inaugural Doha Film Festival 2025. The opening of these industry days was graced by HE Sheikha Al Mayassa Bint Hamad Al-Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, HE Lolwah Al Khater, Minister of Education and Higher Education, and HE Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, Chairman of Qatar Tourism. The event was opened by DFI CEO Fatma Hassan Alremaihi.
HE Hassan Al Thawadi, Chairman of the Film Committee at Media City Qatar, inaugurated the Industry Days at the Rosewood Hotel in Doha. The event brought together leading figures from global cinema, media, and technology to explore the future of filmmaking in Qatar and across the region. Over the course of three days, participants will gain insights into emerging trends, innovation in storytelling, and the growth of Qatar as a regional hub for film, media, and entertainment. The event aims to champion new voices from the region and the Global South, fostering dialogue that contributes to the evolution of global storytelling.
The Film Committee plans to unveil several powerful slates of international co-productions, infrastructure, and financing vehicles, establishing Qatar as a key co-investment hub in the global entertainment landscape. Additionally, the Film Committee will launch the Qatar Screen Production Incentive (QSPI) programme. This regional initiative is designed to complement the current film ecosystem and position Qatar as a global destination for film, television, and screen content production.
The QSPI offers up to a 50 per cent cash rebate on qualifying Qatari production expenditure. This includes a 40 per cent base rebate with an additional uplift of up to 10 per cent for productions that meet defined criteria such as hiring Qatari talent, investing in local training, promoting Qatari culture, and other aspects of industry development. The incentive is available across the Arab world and Global South, allowing productions to complete portions of their filming in neighbouring Arab countries while remaining eligible under the programme. Productions can rebate up to 25 per cent of the total qualifying expenditure incurred in a selected country. Further details on the QSPI will be announced in due course.
HE Hassan Al Thawadi, Chairman of the Film Committee, commented on the launch, stating: "The launch of the Film Committee marks a new chapter for our nation's creative economy - one that unites culture, innovation, and global collaboration. Doha's unique position at the crossroads of East and West makes it an extraordinary platform for storytelling. With our existing infrastructure, industry-leading incentive programmes, and partnerships with the world's most visionary creators, Qatar is opening its doors to the future of film."
The launch of the Film Committee during the Doha Film Festival 2025, organised by DFI, reflects a shared mission to elevate regional storytelling and connect Arab filmmakers with global audiences. This collaboration underscores Qatar's integrated cultural vision, combining institutional support, education, and industry investment to empower the next generation of creators.