The Sudanese film Cotton Queen, directed by Sudanese-Russian filmmaker Suzannah Mirghani, and Sudanese filmmaker Eiman Mirghani were among the winners at the Doha Film Festival (DFF), which concluded its inaugural edition on Friday, 28 November 2025.
Suzannah’s debut feature Cotton Queen won the Audience Award, while Eiman received Best Director for her short documentary Villa 187.
Cotton Queen debuted in Critics’ Week at the 2025 Venice Film Festival. Set in a cotton-farming village in Sudan, the film follows teenage Nafisa, who finds herself torn between tradition and change. When a businessman arrives offering genetically modified cotton, and a marriage proposal, she becomes the centre of a struggle over the village’s future. As her grandmother Al Sit clings to old hierarchies, Nafisa begins to awaken to her own power. Cotton Queen is a tender yet politically charged coming-of-age story about women’s resilience, self-determination, and the fight to shape their own destiny.
المسابقة الدولية للأفلام الطويلة – جائزة الجمهور: ملكة القطن لسوزانا ميرغني
— Doha Film Institute (@DohaFilm) November 28, 2025
International Feature Film Competition – Audience Award: COTTON QUEEN by Suzannah Mirghani. #DFF25 pic.twitter.com/LLGsY39mJP
Driven by the sudden cancellation of her family’s residency visa in Qatar, Eiman begins documenting their home, and the memories that shaped it, for over 30 years. Though Sudanese, Eiman and her family have lived in Qatar for more than three decades. In 2020, her father broke the news that their visa had been unexpectedly revoked, leaving them uncertain about their future for the first time. Soon after, Eiman starts filming the emotional process of packing up the house they had long considered home, reflecting on the past and contemplating what lies ahead in a place that was never truly theirs.
صُنع في قطر – جائزة أفضل مخرج: إيمان ميرغني عن فيلمها "فيلا 187".
— Doha Film Institute (@DohaFilm) November 28, 2025
Made in Qatar – Best Director Award: Eiman Mirghani, for her film Villa 187. #DFF25 pic.twitter.com/EANJkPr5r2
The DFF, which ran from 20 to 28 November, showcased 97 films from 62 countries and hosted a programme of panels, discussions, and music events, including concerts by Yasiin Bey and Palestinian artists Saint Levant, Zeyne, and Elyanna.
The DFF also featured a special showcase of Sudanese music, highlighting the creativity and rich heritage of a nation whose stories continue to inspire the world. Complementing the film screenings, Sounds of Sudan featured performances by an exceptional lineup of artists including rapper Oddisee, soul artist Gaidaa, multi-instrumentalist artist Sammany Hajo, Sudanese band Karet Safer, and DJ Nedz, representing the diverse range of contemporary Sudanese music.
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