Doha: This month, the main theatre of Cineteca Nacional de las Artes served as a window onto contemporary Arab cinema.
The Doha Film Institute (DFI) presented a curated selection of seven films it has supported in recent years, a programme that brought together prize-winners from Cannes, Venice and Thessaloniki, featured as part of the 2026 Year of Culture partnership between Mexico and Qatar.
More than 1,000 people attended the screenings over the course of the programme, an exceptional turnout for Cineteca Nacional de las Artes underscoring the strong interest in contemporary Arab cinema among Mexican audiences.
For Mexican audiences, the programme offered a rare opportunity to experience films from Iraq, Sudan, Tunisia, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, and Egypt. These stories explored themes of identity, memory, family, and tradition, bringing perspectives that are seldom seen on Mexico’s film circuit.
Nelson Carro, Director of Outreach and Programming at Cineteca Nacional de las Artes , said: “Our partnership with the Doha Film Institute is especially valuable, as it gives us access to films that are not always easy for us to reach. Since we mainly work with European distributors, access to Arab cinema is not always direct.
Through this collaboration, we were able to present a carefully curated programme of films that explore themes that speak to all of us. That is why we believe it is so important to continue strengthening this relationship and giving it room to grow.”
Advisor on Latin America for the Years of Culture, Mohammed Al Kuwari, added: “Years of Culture is built on the idea that lasting partnerships are shaped through people-to-people connection. Film plays a vital role in that by enabling stories to travel. The Years of Culture’s summer programme, which coincides with World Cup 2026 also reflects a broader vision: using culture alongside sport to build meaningful, long-term connections between societies.”
The film cycle is part of a wider programme that the Years of Culture will roll out in Mexico City this summer, in partnership with institutions such as Museo Jumex and the Centro de Cultura Digital, spanning film, art, heritage, design and sport throughout 2026.
