Qatar's Doha Film Festival has selected "The Station", a drama about a women-only petrol station in war-torn Yemen, as the opening film for its second edition in November 2026. The choice is significant as it demonstrates the festival's commitment to showcasing underrepresented stories and supporting cinema in difficult geopolitical circumstances, despite regional tensions including the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict.

"The Station" is the debut fiction feature by Yemeni Scottish filmmaker Sara Ishaq and premiered at Cannes Critics' Week in May 2026 after winning five awards at Venice's Final Cut in 2025, including Best Film in Post-Production. The international co-production involving Yemeni, Jordanian, French, German, Dutch, Norwegian and Qatari partners tells the story of a petrol station owner navigating war and personal crisis whilst maintaining a sanctuary for women. Yemen currently faces what the United Nations describes as "one of the world's most severe humanitarian and development crises", with a 40 million-strong population struggling with ongoing civil conflict and the recent impacts of climate change including floods and drought.