‘It’s Not Just About What We Have Achieved, It’s About What We Aspire To’

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Doha Film Institute CEO Fatma Hassan Alremaihi was fêted Saturday on the rooftop terrace of Venice’s The Gritti Palace hotel where she received Variety’s 2025 Achievement in International Film Award just as rays of sunshine pierced through light clouds at the packed afternoon event.

“I want to thank Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa, whose unwavering belief in the power of creativity and cultural exchange has shaped every step of our journey,” said Alremaihi, who over the past 15 years has been instrumental to turning the DFI into a crucial cornerstone of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region film industry.

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“This award reflects a collective mission that has guided us for the past 15 years: to amplify Arab voices, to nurture creative talent, and to share untold stories with the world,” she added, noting that “It’s not just about what we have achieved, it’s about what we aspire to.”

“At a time when division and misunderstanding too often dominate the narrative, voices from our region are more vital than ever,” Alremaihi continued. “This award is a powerful reminder that our mission matters and strengthens our resolve to keep empowering important voices.”

The DFI has a record number of 12 supported films premiering at the Venice Festival. They include Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania’s competition entry “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” about the killing of a 5-year-old Palestinian girl who was left stranded in a car that had been attacked by Israeli forces in Gaza in 2024 and later found dead. Unveiling the lineup in July, Venice artistic director Alberto Barbera described it as a moving film that he believed would “most impress audiences and critics.”

Other DFI executives attending the event included the institute’s director of film funding and programs Hana Issa. Also spotted were Red Sea Festival managing director Shivani Pandya, Rome Film Festival co-founder Teresa Cavina, Malta Film Commissioner Johann Grech, Tora Kim (K-Pops!), Taormina Film Festival director Tiziana Rocca, and Rodolphe Ratzel, managing director of Cartier South-East Europe.

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