The film festival is designed to spotlight the next wave of filmmakers and standout stories from across 22 countries.
Fujifilm Middle East, in collaboration with Cinema Akil and Gulf Photo Plus, has announced that it will host the first Fujifilm Short Film Festival from December 12 to 14, 2025, at Alserkal Avenue. The three-day event aims to bring together emerging filmmakers, established industry figures and cinema enthusiasts for a celebration of storytelling from across the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia.
The debut edition has already generated strong interest, with submissions opening in July and closing on September 15, 2025. The festival received 2,000 entries from filmmakers across 22 countries where Fujifilm Middle East operates, underscoring the growing demand for authentic, regionally rooted filmmaking.
Following the shortlist announcement in November, the festival will feature public screenings, panel discussions, curated workshops held on December 13 and 14, mentorship sessions and an awards ceremony honouring standout regional talent. Filmmakers will compete in four key categories, Narrative, Documentary, Experimental and Student, with shortlisted works scheduled to screen at Cinema Akil. Winners will receive cash prizes and Fujifilm equipment designed to support their continued creative growth.
The festival’s awards include a $2,000 cash prize for Best Film, selected from the winners of the four categories. Each category winner will receive a Fujifilm X-T5 camera paired with an XF16-55mm (MkII) lens, along with a SmallRig Cage, Top Handle and Monitor Mount, plus an additional $1,000 in cash. Each prize package is valued at $3,518. The Audience Award winner will also receive $1,000, with the Best Film recipient receiving cash instead of duplicate equipment.
SmallRig, known for its decade-long collaborative approach with filmmakers and its modular ecosystem of gear, joins Fujifilm in supporting the next generation of creators as part of the festival’s broader mission to uplift regional storytelling.
This year’s jury brings together leading voices in global and regional cinema. The panel includes Iranian producer Kaveh Farnam, known for There Is No Evil (Golden Bear, Berlinale 2020) and A Man of Integrity (Cannes Un Certain Regard 2017); Kenyan filmmaker and festival programmer Hawa Essuman, Co-director of SILAS and Co-founder of Manyatta Screenings; Shannon Ayers Holden, Associate Director of community relations at Alserkal Avenue; Mohamed Tarek, Film Critic and Lead Programmer at Cinema Akil, also serving as Artistic Director of the Cairo International Film Festival; Gianluca Chakra, CEO of Front Row Filmed Entertainment, recognised by Variety as one of the 500 most influential figures in global media (2019 – 2025); and and Nasri Atallah, award-winning executive producer, writer and editor, and current Editor of TN Magazine at The National.
Bringing together filmmakers, producers, cultural voices and creative innovators, the jury reflects the festival’s commitment to artistic excellence and diverse perspectives.
Marking a new chapter in Fujifilm’s creative initiatives, the Fujifilm Short Film Festival aims to build a dynamic platform for dialogue, collaboration and discovery. Beyond showcasing films, it celebrates the ambition and originality of storytellers across the region. The complete festival schedule, including screenings and special events, will be revealed in the coming weeks.
