Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) has launched the open call for the Al Marmoom Short-Film Competition, held as part of the fourth Al Marmoom: Film in the Desert festival. The competition aims to enrich the local film scene, provide an innovative platform to support filmmakers and encourage them to share their experiences and knowledge, inspiring new talent to join this field.
Open Call for Filmmakers
Dubai Culture is inviting all emerging filmmakers and creatives, both locally and globally, to participate and submit their works for the festival’s competition. Applications are open from 14 August to 30 September 2024. Afterwards, a specialised committee of experts, directors, and filmmakers will screen and evaluate the submissions to prepare the list of films competing for the festival awards. The event will take place at Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve from 3 to 12 January 2025.
Competition Details and Categories
The competition includes four categories: documentaries, animated films, live-action, and films made using artificial intelligence. Eligible works will be selected based on a set of criteria related to quality and content. This open call targets all emerging filmmakers and directors, whether working individually or in groups. Participants must present distinctive ideas that express their artistic visions and demonstrate their commitment to innovation. Additionally, they must ensure the work is original, recent, and has not been shown at any local, regional, or global festival or event.The film must be between 3 and 30 minutes long, free from any offense to public morals, religions, or communities, and the participant must own all rights to the short film.
Submission Guidelines and Requirements
Through its official competition and programme of activities, film screenings, interactive workshops, and talks, the festival seeks to enhance the sustainability of the film industry in the region and create an inspiring environment that brings together industry professionals to share their experiences and knowledge, inspiring new talents to join this field. It also aims to provide an exceptional cultural experience for the public, whether citizens, residents, or visitors, as well as offering a valuable platform to support the emerging film sector locally and regionally, enabling emerging creatives to showcase their creativity, refine and develop their talents, and achieve professionalism.
Promoting Sustainability in the Film Industry
The festival’s third edition showcased over 70 films, featuring the work of Emirati, Gulf, Arab, and international filmmakers. Notably, the previous Al Marmoom Short-Film Competition featured 56 short films competing across three categories. Additionally, the festival hosted a series of talks and workshops led by industry experts, along with a collection of exhibitions and artworks inspired by the history of cinema.