Students Demonstrate Creative Mastery at the UOWD Film Festival 2025

Wednesday, 10 December, 2025

The University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) hosted the third edition of its annual Film Festival, which brought together over 180 submissions from high school and university students across the UAE and abroad. The top ten finalists presented their short films to a live audience of more than 100 attendees, showcasing exceptional creativity, discipline, and technical skill.

Across genres such as drama, thriller, and horror, this year’s finalists demonstrated how effectively young filmmakers can tell powerful stories in under ten minutes. As Dr Michael Mallory, Head of the Media Department, shared, “Each year, we see a clear leap in the quality of storytelling and production. The 2025 finalists showed how much can be achieved in a short format, proving that the next generation of filmmakers is both ambitious and capable.”

Industry Expertise and Creative Insight

The judging panel included both academic and industry experts. Internal judges were Prof Feras Hamza, Head of the School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Health, and Dr Aaron Anderson, Associate Professor of Screen Media. External judges were Karen Coetzee, Founder of Central Films, Jaafar Almadhoon, Documentary Maker at CNN Arabic, Alaa Nawar, Business Development Manager at Mediacast, and Chris Waddington, Senior Distribution and AV Partner Manager at Blackmagic Design.

The festival was supported by CNN Arabic, Central Films, and Blackmagic Design as official partners, giving participants valuable exposure to professionals working in film and production across the region.

2025 Winners and Recognitions

Winner, Best Overall Short Film
Sasha Morton Smyth
Porcelain
Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/jyVdmTwN7qQ

Porcelain was recognised by all judges as the top film of the competition. Its story, cinematography, performances, and attention to detail reflected a strong command of both narrative and technical execution. The film stood out for its emotional tone, direction, and production quality.

Winner, Cinematography
Aghiad Souhel Dabi, Qusai Abo Ismaiel, Issa Khoury
The Young Man Who Lost His Shadow
Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/wM4uLMeHyYM

This short film impressed both judges and audience members with its visual storytelling, lighting, and composition. It delivered a strong emotional impact and was also recognised as runner up for Best Overall Short Film and Screenplay.

Winner, Screenplay
Bathille Genton, Sonia Malde Kara, Elina Makhmakhanova
À Contre Courant
Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/3wT7lYuHCPY

Created by three Bachelor of Communication and Media students from UOWD, À Contre Courant was praised for its originality, structure, and character development. Judges noted its clear vision and creative execution.

Winner, Best Advertising Short
Daria Buzueva

This winning entry showed clarity, creativity, and impact in under a minute, demonstrating how strong storytelling can be achieved within strict time constraints.

Second Place, Advertising Short
Mansur Nusipali

This short impressed for its creativity, polished production, and clear audience connection.

Runner Up, Best Overall Short Film
Aghiad Souhel Dabi, Qusai Abo Ismaiel, Issa Khoury
The Young Man Who Lost His Shadow

Runner Up, Cinematography
Rebecca Shami
Children of Light

Children of Light was recognised for its composition, shot selection, and technical control. It narrowly missed the top cinematography award but was highly rated across all judging criteria.

Runner Up, Screenplay
Aghiad Souhel Dabi, Qusai Abo Ismaiel, Issa Khoury
The Young Man Who Lost His Shadow

The UOWD Film Festival celebrates more than competition. It provides a platform for young filmmakers to showcase their work, engage with industry experts, and gain practical experience in film presentation and critique.

With every edition, the UOWD Film Festival strengthens its role as a launchpad for emerging talent, reinforcing the university’s commitment to creativity, innovation, and professional excellence in media and design.

Interested in creating your own film or building a career in media?

Explore UOWD’s Media & Design degrees to learn storytelling, film production, and visual communication from experienced faculty in the heart of Dubai.