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18 November 2025 – Doha, Qatar: The Years of Culture initiative and Doha Film Institute (DFI) will present a series of films, musical experiences and talks celebrating the creative spirit of Argentina and Chile as part of Doha Film Festival. Held under the Qatar Argentina and Chile 2025 Year of Culture, the special programme highlights how rhythm, melody, and moving images unite to tell stories that transcend borders and encourage dialogue between cultures.
Building on a long-term partnership with DFI that showcases filmmakers and narratives from Years of Culture partner nations, the events reflect the initiative’s mission to promote understanding through creative exchange and celebrate how art connects people and traditions across continents.
Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Festival Director and CEO of DFI said: “Through our ongoing partnership with Years of Culture, we continue to bring together stories, voices, and talents from around the world that remind us of the shared human experience. Each yearly collaboration offers a powerful platform for filmmakers and audiences to discover new perspectives, celebrate shared creativity, and strengthen the bonds between Qatar and the world.”
Made in Argentina and Chile – Short Films Programme
21 November 2025 | Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
The Made in Argentina and Chile showcase will feature seven short films by emerging voices who are redefining the Latin American film scene.
The 103-minute programme includes Towards the Sun, Far from the Center by Pascal Viveros (Chilean) and Luciana Merino (Chilean), Sunset Over America by Matías Rojas Valencia (Chile), The Canon by Martín Seeger (Chilean), The Look of Glass by Tomás Murphy (Argentinian), Lime by Santiago Dulce (Argentinian), Echo and Reverberation by Fernanda Taleb (Argentinian), and Baisanos by Andrés and Francisca Khamis Giacoman (Chilean-Palestinian).
Each story offers a different view of identity, belonging, and resilience. Together they capture the emotional landscapes of the Andes and Pampas, resonating with audiences in Doha through universal human experiences.
Talks – In Every Frame, A Rhythm
23 November 2025 | Bin Jelmood House, Msheireb Museums | Free Admission
Presented with afikra, a pioneering global media and educational platform, this talk looks at how sound shapes storytelling on screen. Mikey Muhanna, Founder and Executive Director of afikra, will lead a conversation with three renowned composers, Suad Bushnaq (Jordanian-Canadian), Ben Frost (Australian-Icelandic), and Gustavo Santaolalla (Argentinian), about how music brings emotion, pace, and meaning to film.
Bushnaq, a composer praised by Hans Zimmer as an “incredible artist,” has written scores for more than sixty films, including Yunan (Berlinale) and The Secret World of Sound with David Attenborough. Frost, based in Reykjavík, is known for Dark, 1899, and Raised by Wolves, where he merges experimental sound design with striking imagery. Santaolalla, a two-time Academy Award winner, is one of Latin America’s most respected musical voices, celebrated for his work on The Last of Us and his mix of tango and electronic sounds.
Scoring: Gustavo Santaolalla with the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra
27 November 2025 | QNCC Auditorium 3
Cultural exploration will continue with Scoring, a special live concert where Academy Award-winning Argentinian composer Gustavo Santaolalla will perform with the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra.
Audiences will hear some of Santaolalla’s most beloved film compositions, including The Motorcycle Diaries and The Last of Us. Through the Philharmonic’s sweeping performance, the evening will pay tribute to the power of film music and the emotions it evokes.
Headliners: Elyanna and Dana Al Meer
28 November 2025 | Lusail City Stage – Zone 1
Marking a memorable finale, the festival will feature Elyanna, the Palestinian-Chilean artist bridging cultures through her modern take on Arabic pop and celebrated Qatari singer Dana Al Meer.
Elyanna’s fusion of Arabic and Latin influences, followed by Dana Al Meer’s unmistakably Qatari voice, embody the spirit Years of Culture seeks to share with participants: a celebration of creativity across continents.
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