Doha Film Institute Names 2026 Ajyal Competition Lineup
The 17-film selection, spanning five features and 12 shorts, will compete at the Doha Film Festival this November.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Youth
Doha Film Institute has announced the 17 films selected for the 2026 Ajyal Film Competition, comprising five feature films and 12 short films. The competition is judged by the Ajyal Jury, a panel of young people aged 16 to 25 who select the winners.
Why it matters
The Ajyal competition places youth perspectives at the center of festival programming, giving young jurors a direct role in choosing award winners. The lineup features works from several countries, reflecting the festival's international scope.
The competition lineup is 17 films, split into five features and 12 shorts, selected for the Ajyal Film Competition. The Ajyal Jury is composed of members aged 16 to 25, and the source does not state the prizes awarded.
The players
Doha Film Institute
The Doha Film Institute is a Qatar-based organization that supports filmmaking and runs the Doha Film Festival.
Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo
Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo is a filmmaker whose film Ben'Imana won the Caméra d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival 2026.
The details
The selection includes Ben'Imana, directed by Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo, which won the Caméra d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival 2026, along with Gabin by Maxence Voiseux, Out of School by Hind Bensari, Summer Meadow by Naël Khleifi and Lisa Debauche, and We Are Aliens by Kohei Kadowaki. The Ajyal Jury engages in conversations about the films before selecting the winners.
Timeline
November 8, 2026: Doha Film Institute announces the 2026 Ajyal Film Competition selection.
November 19-27, 2026: Doha Film Festival takes place.
Youth Film Programming
Ben'Imana's Caméra d'Or win at the Cannes Film Festival 2026 precedes its inclusion in the Ajyal Film Competition, linking a top Cannes honor to a youth-judged competition. The pairing shows how festivals increasingly route award-winning features into juries of young viewers.
Viewers interested in the selection can track the Doha Film Festival, which runs November 19-27, 2026. The source does not specify public screening locations or ticket details.
The takeaway
The Ajyal selection shows festivals giving young people a formal role in judging films, which can shape how new cinema is discovered and rewarded. Readers following youth culture can watch how these juries influence which films gain attention.
What happens next
The Doha Film Festival runs November 19-27, 2026, where the Ajyal Jury will select the competition winners.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in the Youth section for related perspectives on young audiences and youth-focused culture.
More information
Find festival details on the Doha Film Festival official information site.
