The 11th edition of Qumra, the annual cinematic incubator organized by the Doha Film Institute, continues its activities, providing a collaborative space and engagement opportunities with global film experts across various fields.Arab and international filmmakers showcasing their projects at Qumra 2025 praised the event for nurturing compelling stories from script to screen, expressing gratitude for the platform's recognition and support.Pablo Perez Lombardini, now in the final stages of his debut film The Reserve (Mexico, Qatar), about a ranger protecting a natural reserve despite resistance from her community, commented: "Qumra provides us with valuable relationships for our current and future films. It makes you feel like you are part of a community and has surpassed expectations."Echoing this, Helene Harder, the French-German director of the documentary Fatna, a Woman Named Rachid (France, Morocco, Belgium, Qatar), told through a 67-year-old Moroccan activist and survivor of political violence, said: "Doha Film Institute helps create buzz and knowledge around our films. Im very grateful to be here this beautiful organisation and the quality of people we meet here are impressive."Madrid-born Guillermo Garcia Lopez spent three years living among the concerned community to gain their confidence ahead of shooting his feature film Sleepless City (Spain, France, Qatar), about a teenage Roma boy grappling with the threat of eviction. "When society wants to exclude a community, they take away electricity, water, but also culture," he said. He found creative ways to involve everyone. "We were doing film workshops with the kids, making films with phones, and later had a short film in Cannes, which we consider a success for representation and visibility."Mother of Silence (Iraq, France, Qatar) by Iraqi filmmaker Zahraa Gandhour reflects on the cultural stigma surrounding newborn girls in Iraq and the disappearance of the filmmakers childhood friend, Noor. "This project has been through Qumra before, during the development phase. I saw the same experts two or three years ago and again now, which was great as they were familiar with the project. Its a very personal story about our feelings toward our mothers and how we express them," she said.Roqia (Algeria, France, KSA), a thriller-horror by Algerian filmmaker Yanis Koussim, follows the convergence of two lives in 1993, one touched by amnesia and another by Alzheimers. "The film has layers that can speak to every kind of viewer. But as an Algerian living in Algeria in a Muslim community, I believe this film will resonate with the Muslim community," he stated.Earlier sessions featured award-winning Mexican costume designer Anna Terrazas, who shared insights into the role of costume design in filmmaking, advising emerging filmmakers to build strong teams for successful collaborations.Qumra 2025, which began last Friday, concludes on Wednesday, hosting over 250 film experts from 50 countries, the largest participation in the festivals history. Experts are mentoring 49 projects from over 20 countries, including 18 projects by Qatari filmmakers and residents, showcasing Qatars growing cinematic ecosystem. (