Short Film

Showcase your Creativity, Storytelling and Filmmaking and have the chance to win up to AED 40,000 in Prizes!!

2026 Theme: This Wasn’t The Plan

All short films must be made to fit with this theme. This theme is rather broad, and we want to see creativity in how the films adopt or apply this theme to the storyline and film.

Short Films can be submitted by EITHER University Students or High School Students. You must indicate your School on the registration form to be eligible to participate.

You can submit as an individual OR as a group.

Groups can have a MAXIMUM of 3 MEMBERS – Individuals cannot work on more than 1 short film

Prizes will be given for the following categories:

• Best Short Film – Up to AED 20,000 in Prizes
• Best Screenplay – Up to AED 10,000 in Prizes
• Best Cinematography – Up to AED 10,000 in Prizes

SHORT FILMS SHOULD BE LESS THAN 10 MINUTES IN LENGTH AND SUBMITTED TO ONE OF THE FOLLOWING GENRES:

• Comedy
• Drama
• Horror
• Romance
• Sci-Fi

All entries must be original work, done by the group

All content must be original or have written permission to be used in the production of the film – copyright protected material is not allowed to be used

If video, images, or other content are used from another person, evidence of permission for use must be provided and acknowledged in the film credits. This is strictly enforced.

Non-English films must have English subtitles.

Short Film Submissions must be uploaded online and include: 

• Entry Form
• 1 minute trailer (HD)
• The full film (HD)
• Film treatment (max 1000 words)
• 3 Screen Shots from the film (HD)
• 2 Posters of the Film (high resolution) (27” x 40”, 300 dpi)
• Pictures (high resolution) and short biographies (100-200 words) of all team members

Note: Failure to upload all the requirements will disqualify you

Selection Process

Entries will be subject to review by a committee constituted by the Festival. The committee will select up to 5 short film finalists to be screened at the Festival.

No person in any way connected with the production or commercial exploitation of a competitive entry will be a member of the jury. All Members of the jury will refrain from releasing any articles or reviews to the press concerning the films submitted for their judgement until after the jury’s decisions have been formally published/ declared.

A Panel of Judges will judge the Short Film finalists and select the Winners for the given categories. Films will be judged for the following:

Content:

• Interpretation, Creativity and Adaptation of Theme
• Storytelling/Screen Play
• Artistic and Visual Appeal
• Originality

Technical:

• Editing
• Audio and Sound Editing
• Effects

The following types of content are not acceptable:

• Sexual scenes and nudity
• Very strong violence
• Strong horror
• Overly indecent language or behavior

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