The festival celebrates emerging talent in the Middle East.
Fujifilm has launched a short film festival for emerging regional talent in the Middle East. The Fujifilm Short Film Festival invites filmmakers, viewers, and dreamers. Submissions are open until 15 September, with the event taking place in December.
The Fujifilm Short Film Festival champions the next generation of filmmakers across the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia. The festival has been created in partnership with Cinema Akil and Gulf Photo Plus.
Whether you’re a student, an emerging director, or an established creative, this festival is a platform to connect and collaborate. Filmmakers are invited to submit bold, original work across five categories: narrative, documentary, experimental, commercial and student shorts. Each submission must run under 30 minutes, offering a compact yet powerful showcase of creativity.
Highlights of the programme include public screenings at Cinema Akil, workshops and mentorship sessions hosted by Gulf Photo Plus. Plus, there will be a closing awards ceremony to spotlight the region’s most promising talent.
Richard Lackey, Marketing Manager at Fujifilm Middle East, said: “This festival marks an exciting return for Fujifilm into the world of filmmaking – an art form that’s long been part of our creative DNA. The Fujifilm Short Film Festival supports visual storytellers across the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia. Our hope is to see this festival grow into an annual celebration – a fixture on the regional cultural calendar and a meaningful space for emerging filmmakers to thrive.”
Butheina Kazim, founder of Cinema Akil, added: “We see this festival as an alliance of partners, all three of whom have long placed their bets on regional storytellers, both in photography and the moving image.”
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GO: Visit www.fujifilm-xmea.com for more information.