Veteran Kuwaiti actor Jassim Al Nabhan captivated members of the media at the Doha Film Festival (DFF) on November 22, reflecting on his illustrious career in theatre, television, and voice acting. At 81, he emphasised the importance of film festivals today in keeping art and cultural exchange alive.

“Before the 1980s, there were other prominent Arab festivals, such as the Damascus Festival, Baghdad Festival, Carthage Film Festival in Tunisia, and the Arab Festival in Egypt. Each year, they contributed to raising the quality of artistic work,” said Al Nabhan.

“Festivals today are more important than ever, and given the importance of previous Arab festivals, I hope the Doha Film Festival becomes a pivotal platform for supporting cinema in the Gulf. Cinema, after all, carries an important point of view,” he added.

Capturing the hearts of audiences across generations, Al Nabhan has portrayed over 300 roles. In some households, he became beloved without ever being seen as the voice of dubbed cartoons such as Lady Oscar, Adnan and Lina, and Iron Man. He discussed the importance of continuing this tradition of creating children’s content in a unified Classical Arabic, which can be widely understood.

Al Nabhan – who found a love of theatre, gymnastics, and scouting in classrooms in the 1960s – also showed a special appreciation for schools as institutions that can ignite hobbies in young people, warning against over-reliance on online forums.

Throughout the session, Al Nabhan returned to the importance of regional collaboration, offering hope for a resurgence of such historical efforts that align with DFF’s vision of uniting filmmakers and audiences through a shared love for bold, authentic storytelling.

Taking place from 20–28 November 2025, Doha Film Festival (DFF) marks the bold next chapter in Doha Film Institute's mission to nurture regional talent and champion urgent and authentic stories in cinema.

Key Partners of Doha Film Festival include Katara, Media City Qatar I Film Committee and Visit Qatar. The festival will transform iconic locations across Doha, including Katara Cultural Village, Msheireb Downtown Doha, and the Museum of Islamic Art, into vibrant hubs of cultural exchange, bringing together filmmakers, storytellers, and audiences from every corner of the globe, to reaffirm art's power. For more information, visit www.dohafilm.com.