Under the theme ‘Where Stories Come To Life’ the festival featured more than 30 workshops, panels and discussions connecting emerging talents with industry experts.
The Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) has concluded the fourth edition of the Al Marmoom: Film in the Desert festival with a closing ceremony at the Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve.
The event celebrated the winners of the Al Marmoom Short Film Competition, with Marwan Chiguer’s Investigation taking first place. Refractions by Saif Abdulla claimed second, while Ahmed Saber’s Stranger in My House secured third.
Dr. Saeed Mubarak bin Kharbash, CEO of the Arts, Design and Literature Sector at Dubai Culture, attended the ceremony, which also recognised winners of the photography competition. Abdullah Al Shehi earned first place, followed by Latifa Al Roumani, Abdulrahim Al Hammadi and Fares Al Marashly in second, third and fourth positions, respectively. Their photography highlighted the natural splendour of the Al Marmoom Desert.
The event additionally honoured Emirati filmmaker Hussein Al Ansari, alongside festival sponsors and a distinguished judging panel, which included industry experts like Hani Alshaibani, Haidar Mohamad, Hanan Ghaith, Suzan Najmeddin, Morcous Adel, Mohamed Salama, Alaa Al Anssari, Mariam Al Serkal and Wael Attili.
Maitha Ali Al Blooshi, Manager of the Events Section at Dubai Culture and Project Manager of the festival, underlined the event’s success in reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global cultural hub. She highlighted its role in fostering creativity, supporting emerging filmmakers and enriching Dubai’s cinematic landscape. “The festival offered participants a unique space to explore advanced filmmaking techniques and discover opportunities within the cultural and creative industries,” she stated, while also commending the volunteers’ efforts in ensuring a smooth experience for attendees.
This year’s edition showcased more than 80 films by Emirati, Gulf, Arab and international filmmakers. A notable highlight was Journey to the Stars by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, which chronicled the UAE’s achievements in space exploration, including missions by astronauts Sultan Al Neyadi and Hazzaa Al Mansoori. Emirati director Hussein Al Ansari also presented two short films as part of the diverse line-up.
Under the theme Where Stories Come To Life, the festival featured more than 30 workshops, panels and discussions that connected emerging talents with industry experts. The programme included digital art exhibitions, heritage performances, music and innovative experiences such as AI-driven filmmaking and stargazing through a planetarium.
