Yemeni-Scottish filmmaker Sara Ishaq's civil war drama "The Station" will serve as the opening film for the Doha Film Festival's second edition, running 19–27 November 2026 in Qatar. The film follows Layal, who operates a women-only petrol station that becomes a refuge for civilians amid Yemen's conflict, whilst navigating the personal toll of war as she attempts to prevent her brother's conscription.

The festival's selection of this work reflects a deliberate curatorial focus on amplifying marginalised perspectives and supporting artistic expression from regions experiencing geopolitical instability. By highlighting a distinctly female-centred narrative grounded in lived conflict, the festival emphasises cinema's capacity to document human endurance and illuminate the particular challenges women face during wartime.