Unlike Hamas, which still maintains an office in Qatar, the Doha Film Institute (DFI) operates out of a post office box in the oil-rich Middle Eastern country. But the institute — which proclaims that it is “independent” and merely interested in promoting film and culture — wields a lot of clout.

With the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), in particular.

DFI came into existence in 2010. It is led by Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, a telegenic Qatari woman. Alremaihi has not hidden her disdain for Israel, in her public remarks or in the films she funds.

Just days after Hamas murdered, raped and wounded thousands of Israelis on Oct. 7, 2023, for example, Alremaihi spoke at a conference in Doha promoting “voices from Palestine.” The DFI CEO called for “resistance,” quote unquote, presumab

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