Doha - Qatar
The Doha Film Institute announced that the Doha Film Festival 2026 will open its activities with the Middle East and North Africa premiere of “The Station,” the first feature film by Yemeni-Scottish director Sarah Ishaq. The session will be held from November 19 to 27, 2026 in Doha.

A human story inside a gas station for women in Yemen

The film takes place inside a gas station designated for women in war-torn Yemen, where the station represents a rare haven where women gather to refuel, exchange conversations, and catch their breath away from their surrounding reality. When Layal's younger brother faces the threat of conscription, she finds herself forced to reconnect with her sister, who was separated from her, in an attempt to save him. The film is directed by Sarah Ishaq, with a screenplay by Ishaq and Nadia Aliwat, and co-starring is Manal Al-Maliki, Abeer Muhammad, Rashad Khaled, Saleh Al-Mustarfi, Fariha Hassan, Randa Muhammad, Fatima Muthana, Amal Ismail, and Shorouk Muhammad.

Five awards in Venice and a screening at the Critics' Week in Cannes
The film received support from the Doha Film Institute’s grants programme, and won five awards in the “Final Cut” section at the 2025 Venice Film Festival, including the “Venice Biennale” award for best film in post-production, before seeing its world premiere in the official Critics’ Week competition at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2026.

Al Rumaihi: A story that transcends borders and addresses audiences everywhere

Fatima Hassan Al Rumaihi, CEO of the Doha Film Institute and Director of the Doha Film Festival, said: “The film The Station embodies the spirit of cinema that the Doha Film Institute believes in, and a story that rarely finds its way to the audience, but it transcends borders and reminds us of our common humanity. Sarah Ishaq has succeeded in presenting a film characterized by an exceptional amount of courage and emotion, transforming a story rooted in Yemen into a tale that speaks to audiences everywhere.”

Ishaq: Greetings to the Yemeni people
For her part, director Sarah Ishaq said: “The station’s world encapsulates everything I love and cherish in Yemen within a fragile utopia, constantly overshadowed by the turmoil that prevails in the world around it. In essence, the film deals with the human being with all his complexities, contradictions, and human aspects. “It is a tribute to the Yemeni people, who faced years of war with dignity and strength.” Nadia Aliwat, the film’s producer, said: “Our ability to come together and support our narrative is extremely important, and that is why the film embodies this spirit of solidarity.”

A prominent stop for movie lovers in the region

The festival is a prominent stop for cinema lovers and visitors in the region, as it brings together filmmakers, audiences, and cinematic voices from Qatar, the Arab world, and the international community in celebration of authentic narratives, making it an opportunity for those planning to visit Doha in November to follow qualitative performances that combine human stories and international cinematic experiences.