Fatma Hassan Al‑Remaihi: Leading Doha Film Institute

Summary

Fatma Hassan Al‑Remaihi, CEO of the Doha Film Institute (DFI), has transformed the organisation from a regional cultural body into an internationally recognised creative investment platform. She treats film as both art and asset, promoting Qatari talent through the “Made in Qatar” programme while aligning DFI’s work with national economic priorities. Under her stewardship the Qatari Film Fund (QFF) operates like a structured investment vehicle—providing grants plus mentorship, legal support and financial oversight—to ensure projects are artistically strong and economically accountable.

Al‑Remaihi has prioritised global partnerships, governance frameworks for co‑productions and IP, and strategic alliances that extend DFI’s distribution and marketing reach. Her leadership frames cultural institutions as mission‑driven organisations that must also demonstrate financial rigour and measurable outcomes. The Institute’s future trajectory includes more international co‑productions, IP monetisation and expanded festival programming to scale cultural impact.

Key Points

Al‑Remaihi has repositioned DFI as a creative investment platform, not just a festival organiser.
The “Made in Qatar” programme aims to nurture homegrown filmmakers for international markets.
The Qatari Film Fund (QFF) functions as a structured investment: grants plus mentorship, legal oversight and budget management.
DFI pursues global partnerships with media companies, cultural institutions and sponsors to broaden distribution and funding.
Strong governance is applied to co‑productions, IP rights and licensing to mitigate legal and financial risks.
Lessons for executives: blend vision with measurable outcomes, invest in talent and infrastructure, and cultivate strategic alliances to amplify impact and revenue.

Why should I read this?

Quick and useful — if you care about how culture gets run like a business (without killing the art), read this. Fatma Al‑Remaihi shows how a film institute can be a real economic and cultural engine: think grants that act like investments, tight legal guardrails for IP, and smart global partnerships. If you want examples of mission‑driven leadership that actually scales, this one’s worth a skim — or a full read if you lead strategy, culture or creative investment.