منذ 5 أشهر
Guided by the belief that cinema creates space for dialogue, reflection and connection, DFF brings together filmmakers, audiences and industry voices to honour original storytelling from Qatar, the region and beyond.
NAAS was invited to the Doha Film Festival’s Film Education Summit, for a panel on November 27th, 2025. It took place at the Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium.
This two-day forum is dedicated to reimagining film education, talent development, and the future of cinema in our region and beyond. The Summit convenes leading film schools, educators, filmmakers, producers, cultural leaders, and film institutions to exchange ideas, share pioneering models, and inspire fresh approaches to mentorship and training.
Through curated panels, it highlights alternative pathways into the industry, fosters dialogue between academic and vocational practices, and builds inclusive professional networks that empower the next generation of filmmakers in the region.
Read the full programme of the Doha’s 2025 Film Education Summit.
The panel in which NAAS took part in was the following:
Panel 4: Building a Sustainable Ecosystem for Children’s Cinema in the Arab World – Realities, Challenges, and Pathways for Audience Development
Filmlab Palestine invites filmmakers, educators, and cultural leaders to reimagine cinema for the next generation. Through the lens of its Story Lab program, the panel explored how authentic and diverse stories can inspire Arab youth, particularly in regions affected by conflict and instability. The conversation looked at the current absence of quality Arabic-language content for children, the systemic obstacles to producing it, and the urgent need to nurture critical young audiences.
By sharing both challenges and emerging initiatives, the panel highlighted how creative collaboration, education, and regional partnerships can spark a vibrant ecosystem for youth cinema that reflects local identity and speaks directly to the realities of Arab children and young people.
Panelists included Nada Bakr, Executive Director of Network of Arab Alternative Screens (Germany), Jessica Khoury, VP of Business Affairs at Film Clinic Indie Distribution (Egypt), Ola Salama, Executive Director of Filmlab Palestine (Palestine). The moderator was Darine Hotait, founder, writer and director of Cinephilia Productions (USA).
Read the full programme of the Doha’s 2025 Film Education Summit. Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
