Every edition, the Doha Film Institute lands some bold global filmmaker folk to offer mentorship and masterclasses for the next generation of filmmakers and this year’s Qumra have selected the likes of Alice Diop, who gave us the masterwork Saint Omer (read review) Ambulante’s Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna, Moroccan actor-filmmaker Faouzi Bensaïdi (he last gave us the Cannes-selected Deserts), and Argentine composer Gustavo Santaolalla. The incubator event takes place between March 27th to April 1st. Beyond these masterclasses, the 12th edition of Qumra gives one-on-one mentorship sessions and curated industry meetings with the full programme being announced shortly. Here’s the presser:
Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, CEO of DFI, said, “Qumra was created to ensure that emerging filmmakers are not only supported, but truly seen—artistically, professionally and globally. Welcoming these luminaries as our 2026 Qumra Masters reflects our belief that generous mentorship can change creative trajectories. Their commitment to storytelling, cultural dialogue and artistic courage will have a lasting impact on the filmmakers they engage with, and on the stories that will shape cinema’s future.
“Gael García Bernal’s return to Qumra is especially meaningful, having been a Master in the very first edition. Over 12 editions, Qumra has grown in scale, ambition and global reach, becoming a space defined by creative exchange, generosity and momentum. We are excited for the Masters to experience the extraordinary energy Qumra is now known for, and deeply grateful to Gael for his early support in helping set the foundation for what has become one of the most influential talent incubators for emerging filmmakers worldwide.”
Masterful Moroccan filmmaker and actor Faouzi Bensaïdi crafts films of quiet tension and dark wit, where precise form and human fragility reveal the poetry of everyday disquiet; influential actor-director-producer whose career spans landmark independent cinema and global mainstream projects, Gael García Bernal consistently champions socially driven storytelling; acclaimed filmmaker Alice Diop, whose rigorously observed documentaries and award-winning narrative work have positioned her as a defining voice in contemporary European cinema; a leading actor, director and producer, Diego Luna’s body of work bridges auteur cinema and major studio productions, while advancing Latino representation across global platforms; and a composer of rare emotional restraint, Gustavo Santaolalla has created some of the most haunting sonic landscapes across film, television and music.