DFI-Backed Films to be Screened at 2025 Cannes Film Festival
From gripping dramas to heartfelt documentaries, DFI-supported films shine at Cannes 2025, highlighting diverse voices in international cinema.
The Doha Film Institute (DFI) continues to make waves on the global stage. The eight films it supported are set to screen at the prestigious 2025 Cannes Film Festival.
This highlights DFI’s commitment to nurturing diverse voices and innovative storytelling across international cinema.
1. Renoir by Chie Hayakawa
A poignant coming-of-age story, Renoir follows the childhood of Fuki in the late 1980s in Tokyo. The film is part of the Official Competition.
2. Aisha Can't Fly Away by Morad Mostafa
This gripping Egyptian drama follows Aisha, a young Somali caregiver who witnesses tension between various groups in the underworld of African migrant society in Cairo. The film is part of Un Certain Regard.
3. Promised Sky by Erige Sehiri
A visually stunning tale of migration and hope, Promised Sky captures the dreams and challenges faced by North African migrants seeking a better future. The film will be screened in the Un Certain Regard category.
4. Once Upon a Time In Gaza by Arab and Tarzan Nasser
This film is about Yahia, who seeks revenge for his friend Ossama's murder. However, an encounter with the killer alters everything. The film is also part of the Un Certain Regard category.
5. The President's Cake by Hasan Hadi
The President’s Cake is about the nine-year-old Lamia, who has to gather the ingredients to bake a cake to celebrate Saddam Hussein's birthday or face punishment. It will be screened as part of the Directors' Fortnight section.
6. Sleepless City by Guillermo Galoe
Sleepless City is about the 13-year-old Toni whose family is given an eviction notice and his friend, Said, is leaving La Cañada for good. The film will premiere at Critics' Week.
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7. L’mina by Randa Maroufi
L’mina is about a mining town in Morocco, which faced a decline in its fortunes and shut down in 2001. It will be screened during Critics' Week.
8. Life After Siham by Namir Abdel Messeeh
This moving documentary examines grief and healing, as it follows a family’s journey after the loss of a beloved matriarch. The film focuses on the filmmaker Namir, who tries to revive his mother's memory through film. The documentary will be screened at ACID.
DFI’s strong presence at Cannes 2025 reaffirms its role in elevating global cinema and supporting groundbreaking filmmakers.