# Aya Al Blouchi — Canonical Biography

*Source: supplied by Aya Al Blouchi, February 2026. Use this as the authoritative reference for all YUSI documents, website copy, and press material.*

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Aya Al Blouchi is a dynamic cultural entrepreneur and film professional whose journey into cinema began at a young age, inspired by her father, a film collector. Early exposure to film festivals sparked a passion that would shape her path and lead to a career dedicated to discovering and sharing stories from all over the world.

In 2025, Aya Al Blouchi was appointed Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, in recognition of her 15 years of dedication to advancing cinema culture and supporting emerging talents in Qatar.

Aya currently serves as the Lead Film Programmer at the Doha Film Institute's annual Doha Film Festival, where she curates a diverse slate of global cinema. Her work emphasises the importance of cultivating and building bridges with audiences through film.

Since joining the Doha Film Institute in 2013 as Youth Programmes Specialist and Ajyal Film Competition Manager, Aya has led the design and implementation of year-round film workshops and screening programmes for young audiences aged 8 to 25. With its signature youth jury program, Ajyal fosters dialogue, critical thinking, and leadership through film, empowering the next generation to engage with cinema not just as viewers, but as active participants and creators, often guiding them through the process of creating their very first short films. She also produces The Ajyal Show — a podcast created by and for young film enthusiasts in the region — further expanding her commitment to youth-led cinema.

Prior to her work at DFI, Aya freelanced for film festivals, production companies, and publishing houses. In Beirut, she served as Young Audience Coordinator at Metropolis Art Cinema Association while managing logistics and volunteers for TEDxBeirut.

Alongside her institutional work, Aya has been actively supporting first- and second-time filmmakers from the region through her own personal ventures. She founded Seat26 Productions, a production outlet driven by her belief in independent storytelling and backed by her own resources. Through Seat26, she has produced and co-produced over a dozen films, providing crucial support to emerging Arab filmmakers. Her commitment to cross-cultural collaboration also led her to launch The Map Projects, a Europe-based incubator for interdisciplinary creatives, offering training, collaborative platforms, and promoting film literacy across communities and borders.

In addition to her ongoing co-production and financing ventures, Aya's latest narrative project, Rabet, marks her entry into serialised storytelling.

Through her multifaceted work, Aya continues to innovate and inspire — shaping the future of cinema in the Arab world and beyond.

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## Key Facts (quick reference)

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Honour | Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (2025) |
| Current title | Lead Film Programmer, Doha Film Festival (DFI) |
| DFI start | 2013 — Youth Programmes Specialist and Ajyal Film Competition Manager |
| Youth programme age range | 8 to 25 |
| Production company | Seat26 Productions (founder) — 12+ films produced/co-produced |
| Incubator | The Map Projects (founder) — Europe-based, film literacy focus |
| Current narrative project | Rabet (serialised storytelling) |
| Pre-DFI | Metropolis Art Cinema Association (Beirut); TEDxBeirut; freelance |
| LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/aya-al-blouchi-013a8526/ |