Doha Film Festival to open with Yemeni drama ‘The Station’

The Doha Film Institute has announced that the 2026 Doha Film Festival will open with the MENA premiere of ‘The Station’ (Al Mahattah). The film is the debut fiction feature from Yemeni-Scottish filmmaker Sara Ishaq.

Set in war-torn Yemen, the drama centers on a women-only petrol station that serves as a sanctuary for women to gather for fuel and conversation. The plot follows a station owner named Layal who must reconnect with her estranged sister to prevent her younger brother from being enlisted.

‘The Station’ previously premiered at Cannes Critics’ Week and received five awards at Venice’s Final Cut in 2025. The festival is scheduled to take place from 19–27 November 2026 in Doha, Qatar.