# Naomi Kawase Leads Doha Film Festival Jury

> Japanese director Naomi Kawase to head Doha Film Festival's main competition jury.
- Title: Naomi Kawase Leads Doha Film Festival Jury · Variety
- Summary: Japanese director Naomi Kawase to head Doha Film Festival's main competition jury. Japanese director Naomi Kawase will lead the Doha Film Festival's main…
- Keywords: naomi kawase, doha film festival, japan, cannes, film festival, jury, entertainment, culture, Naomi, Kawase, Leads, Doha
- Source: Variety — https://variety.com/2026/film/festivals/japanese-director-kawase-naomi-doha-film-festival-jury-1236931056
- Author: Nick Vivarelli
- Published: 2026-10-26T12:30:55+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: naomi kawase, doha film festival, japan, cannes, film festival, jury, entertainment, culture
## Naomi Kawase
Japanese director Naomi Kawase will preside over the main competition jury of the upcoming Doha Film Festival which runs Nov. 19-27 in Qatar.
## Kawase's Background
Kawase, based in Nara, Japan, won the Caméra d’Or at Cannes for 'Moe no Suzaku' in 1997 and has multiple awards from the festival.
## Recent Work
Her latest film 'Yakushima’s Illusion' premiered in competition at Locarno in 2025, and she served on the 2013 Cannes jury.
## Key takeaway

Japanese director Naomi Kawase will lead the Doha Film Festival's main competition jury for its November 19-27 run.