Doha, November 08 (QNA) - Doha Film Festival (DFF), presented by Doha Film Institute (DFI), today announced the selection for the 2026 Ajyal Film Competition, bringing together 17 films that celebrate the imagination, curiosity and creative spirit of young people.

Featuring five feature films and 12 short films from a diverse range of international filmmakers, the selection reflects Ajyal's enduring commitment to empowering young minds through cinema, encouraging meaningful dialogue and fostering a deeper understanding of the world and one another.

At the heart of the competition is the Ajyal Jury of young people aged 16–25 who engage in conversations about the films and select the winners. Youthful perspectives, questions and interpretations are central to the Ajyal programme, affirming the important role that the new generation has in shaping the cultural conversations of today.

CEO of Doha Film Institute and Festival Director of DFF, Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, said: "Young people are not simply the audience of tomorrow; they are voices, visionaries and storytellers shaping our world today. This is evident in the growth of the Ajyal jurors who are now curators and moderators, sharing the power of cinema to create a space to celebrate their individuality and affirm that their voices matter. They show us that the invitation of Ajyal to build a more compassionate future can only be achieved when led by youthful energy."

Feature Film Competition brings together five distinctive cinematic voices exploring the complexities of growing up, the search for belonging and the relationships that shape our lives. They are: "Ben'Imana" by Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo; "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 short film selection brings together 12 standout works, including: "As a Cure" by Dorothea Sing Zhang; "Boomerang Atomic" by Rachid Bouchareb; "Boundaries" by Seun Yee; "Intersecting Memory" by Shayma' Awawdeh; "Nobody Said Anything" by Tamara Todorović; "Prisoner of Love" by Yumna Marwan; "The Bird's Placebo" by Rami Jarboui; "The Kalgan Horse" by Zichen Zhao: "Threads of Support" by Olya Korsun; "Typhoon Mambo" by Domenico Singha Pedroli, "Vegetare" by Adrià Expòsit-Goy; "We Were Here" by Pranav Bhasin.

Through the Ajyal Film Competition, DFF continues to champion cinema as a powerful platform for young people to engage in cultural exchange, critical thinking and creative discovery. (QNA)