Nahla Al Fahad is regarded as one of the UAE and the Middle East’s foremost directors across commercials, entertainment, documentaries, and music videos.
HollyShorts Dubai has announced that Emirati filmmaker Nahla Al Fahad will join its inaugural edition as a headline speaker, bringing one of the UAE’s most influential creative voices to the forefront of the festival’s first annual event. Known for her work across documentaries, feature films, television and music videos, Al Fahad will lead a panel on Saturday, December 13 at 10 a.m. at Studio One Hotel in Studio City, Dubai.
Al Fahad has built an award-winning career marked by stories that resonate across borders and cultures. Her documentary The Tainted Veil (2015) was shortlisted for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature and earned four international awards. Her debut feature film, 218: Behind the Wall of Silence, received an outstanding award at the Murex D’or International Festival in 2022. Over the years, she has been recognised as the 2012 L’Officiel Media Woman of the Year, received the World Federation of United Nation Friends Award in 2019 for her contributions to cultural and artistic initiatives, and earned a certificate of appreciation for her film on the Year of Tolerance for Expo 2020.
Beyond her creative accomplishments, Al Fahad is widely regarded as an advocate for women in film. She frequently takes part in panels at major events to highlight the opportunities and challenges faced by female filmmakers in the region.
Today, she serves as the founder and CEO of Beyond Studios, a Dubai-based production house shaping film and television production across the region.
Jeff Pryor, Strategic Advisor, HollyShorts Dubai, said: “Nahla Al Fahad is a significant figure in the Dubai and broader UAE film scene. She is one of the few prominent female Emirati directors who has successfully established a unique vision in the region’s film industry, bringing local stories to life and pushing boundaries for what storytelling in the Gulf can be. Her speaking engagement will be a must-see session.”
Al Fahad added: “Our film community needs a festival like HollyShorts which can evolve into an important platform to help mentor young, passionate filmmakers as well as be a vibrant networking opportunity for the regional short film industry. I look forward to sharing my experiences with attendees at HollyShorts Dubai and hope to inspire them along their journey.”
HollyShorts is expanding its internationally recognised short film festival model to new markets, with Dubai serving as a key hub for the Middle East. The three-day event will offer filmmakers access to creative discussions, business exchanges and development workshops, while also providing significant global exposure. Winners of the Best Animated, Best Live Action and Best Documentary categories at HollyShorts Dubai will secure guaranteed screening slots at the 2026 HollyShorts Festival in Hollywood, where showcased films will automatically qualify for 2027 Oscar consideration.
