Cotton Queen is a powerful feature exploring the social and economic pressures facing a rural cotton-farming community in Sudan.
“The Sudanese people really show up–as do the people of Doha,” Mirghani said as she accepted the award.
Mirghani’s previous work reflects her ongoing interest in Sudan, the negotiation between tradition and modernity, and the role of women within a patriarchal society. Her highly successful short Al-Sit (2020) won the Canal+ Award at Clermont-Ferrand in 2021, alongside more than 50 international prizes.
Her short Virtual Voice (2021), created during the pandemic, was nominated for several awards and won the Made in Qatar Award at the Ajyal Youth Film Festival (2021). Her other titles include the shorts Hind's Dream (2014) and Caravan (2016).
Doha Film Festival awards
The inaugural edition of Doha Film Festival runs between 20 and 28 November.
Sleepless City, directed by Spanish filmmaker Guillermo Galoe, won Best International Feature.
The emotional Madrid-set drama captured the jury’s attention for its nuanced portrayal of a family on the brink, anchored by a breakout performance from its young lead. The film follows 15-year-old Toni as he navigates tradition and survival while his scrap-collecting family faces eviction.
Galoe dedicated the award to the Palestinian people, saying: “It is dedicated to all the filmmakers who take risks, to the filmmakers who are facing the already difficult task of bringing film to life,” adding: “Today, I especially want to share this moment with the Palestinian brothers and sisters. Your power of resistance, and your resistance through cinema, is profoundly admirable.”
The Best Documentary Award went to My Father and Qaddafi by Jihan K, an emotional investigation into a daughter’s search for the truth behind her father’s disappearance in 1993. The film blends personal grief with a broader reflection on loss and memory. Jihan accepted the award on behalf of her family, saying: “I accept this on behalf of my family, my mother and my father, who loved his country and fought for it, and also for the Libyan people — the people that he lived and died for.”
Majd Eid and Nader Abd Alhay shared the Best Performance Award for their powerful on-screen work in Once Upon a Time in Gaza by Palestinian filmmakers Arab and Tarzan Nasser.
The Best Artistic Achievement Award was shared by With Hasan in Gaza, directed by Kamal Al-Jafari, and Renoir by Chie Hayakawa, both recognised for their distinctive cinematic vision and craftsmanship. The jury also granted a Special Mention to The Reserve by Pablo Pérez Lombardini.
Additionally, the Ajyal Youth Jury awarded Best Feature to The Voice of Hind Rajab by Kaouther Ben Hania. The prize — selected by a youth jury aged 16–25 from across the world — reflects the continued presence of young voices within the festival’s new format, which carries forward the legacy of the former Ajyal festival.
In the International Short Film Competition, the Best Film Award went to Samba Infinito by Leonardo Martinelli. The Best Director prize was awarded to Aria Sánchez and Marina Meira for Primary Education. Milica Janevski won the Best Performance Award for Upon Sunrise.
The jury also granted two Special Mentions: one for L’Mina by Randa Maaroufi, and another for Performance to young Egyptian actor Ammar Ahmed for his role in Zizou by Khaled Moeit. The jury praised his work as “a performance that is in equal measure mature and playful. It touched us all from the get-go, and we couldn’t help but fall in love. This young man moves with infectious charm and range.”
In the Made in Qatar Competition, the jury presented a Special Mention to Project Aisha by Fahad Al-Nahdi. The Abdulaziz Jassim Award for Performance went to Rashid Al Sheeb for his role in Fahad the Furious, while the Best Director Award was given to Egyptian-Sudanese filmmaker Eiman Mirghani for Villa 187. The top prize, Best Film, was awarded to Fahad the Furious by Justin Kramer.
The jury for this section was chaired by actress, director, and producer Afef Ben Mahmoud, alongside Fahad Al-Kuwari, Head of Development at Katara Studios, and producer and distributor Alaa Alasad.
The closing ceremony was attended by Sheikh Thani bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairman of Qatar Fund for Development and DFI Board Member; Sheikh Dr. Abdulla bin Ali Al Thani, Chairman of Media City Qatar; Hassan Al Thawadi, Managing Director of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy; Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, Minister of State and President of Qatar National Library; Mohammed Saad Al Rumaihi, CEO of Qatar Museums; Eng. Abdulaziz Al-Mawlawi, CEO of Visit Qatar; Abdulla Al Najjar, Member of the Board of Trustees of Qatar Museums; and Eng. Jassim Mohamed Al-Khori, CEO of Media City Qatar, among others.
Hosted by Sudanese filmmaker and presenter Amjad Al Noor and Syrian-American comedian Nasser Al-Rayes, the event brought together filmmakers, industry professionals, and cultural leaders from around the world, including Saleh Bakri, Kamal Al-Jafari, Saja Kilani, Misan Harriman, and Elia Suleiman.
Addressing the ceremony, Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Festival Director and CEO of DFI, said: “This festival is a promise that creativity will always have a space, that diverse voices will always be heard, and that Qatar will continue to open its doors to artists shaping a connected and compassionate world. Every story shared here has reminded us that film is one of humanity’s greatest bridges — connecting us beyond borders, backgrounds, and differences to push our collective vision forward.”
Short link: