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Naomi Kawase Heads Doha Film Festival Jury
· Confirmed
In Short: Japanese director Naomi Kawase has been named head of the jury for the main international competition at the second edition of the Doha Film Festival.
Japanese director Naomi Kawase has been named head of the jury for the main international competition at the second edition of the Doha Film Festival, set to run from November 1 to November 7, 2025.
Kawase, known for her work in independent cinema, has previously been a guest of the Doha Film Institute, mentoring emerging filmmakers at the Qumra event in 2016.
Her film 'Radiance' won the ecumenical jury prize at Cannes in 2017, and her latest feature 'Yakushima’s Illusion' premiered in competition at Locarno in 2025.
Kawase’s documentary 'Notturno' (2020) was presented in competition at Venice, and 'Below the Clouds' (2025) won the festival’s Special Jury Prize.
The jury will select the winner from a 15-film lineup of international titles, with top prizes including best narrative ($75,000), documentary ($50,000), artistic achievement ($45,000), and gender-neutral performance acting award ($15,000).
The Doha Film Festival, held in its second edition, follows the success of its inaugural event last year, during which Qatar launched a 50% cash rebate and several major international firms signed partnerships with the country’s Film Committee.
Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, CEO of Doha Film Institute and Director of Doha Film Festival, emphasized the importance of independent cinema in challenging conventions and bringing overlooked perspectives to the screen.
The festival will open with Sara Ishaq’s drama 'The Station,' which examines the impact of Yemen’s civil war on the country.
In addition to the Doha Film Institute, key partners of the Doha Film Festival include Katara, Media City Qatar – Film Committee, and Visit Qatar.
The festival aims to champion original voices and ensure that powerful stories find their way to audiences around the world.
The Doha Film Festival will also feature a lineup of international films, including Andrei Kutsila’s film, which won Venice’s Golden Globes Impact prize for documentary, and Pilar Fogliata and Ginevra Francesconi’s performance in Francesco Bruni’s Rome premiere 'EXCLUSIVE: Club del Mate.'
The festival’s support for emerging filmmakers extends beyond Kawase, with Bouchoucha, one of the Arab world’s most influential film producers, also advocating for new talent.
What this adds
The festival’s second edition builds on the success of its inaugural event, which saw significant international partnerships and financial incentives for filmmakers.
What's confirmed
- Japanese director Naomi Kawase has been unveiled as the head of the jury for the main international competition of the upcoming second edition of the Doha Film Festival in November.
What's still developing
- His film Sacro GRA (2013) became the first documentary to win Venice’s Golden Lion, while Fire at Sea (2016), filmed on the island of Lampedusa, won the Golden Bear and the European Film Award and received an Academy Award nomination.
- Working under the banner of her 30-year-old company Nomadis Images in 1995, her credits include Satin Rouge, Inhebbek Hedi, Weldi, Behind the Mountains, Souad and Aisha Can’t Fly Away.
- Kawase won the Caméra d’Or at Cannes for her 1997 debut Suzaku, before winning the festival’s Grand Prix for 2007’s The Mourning Forest.
- Germany’s most important documentary film festivals runs from October 26 to November 1.