Filmmakers in the UAE have an opportunity to showcase their creativity through Stories of Our Determination, a short film competition launched by the Dubai Films and Games Commission (DFGC) under the Dubai Media Council. The competition welcomes filmmakers from different nationalities who are based in the UAE, including students, emerging creators and experienced professionals.

The submission deadline is October 25, 2026. With prizes announced for student and professional filmmakers, the competition offers an opportunity to tell stories about unity, resilience and the UAE's future.

Dubai Film Competition 2026: Key Details

  • Competition name: Stories of Our Determination

  • Organiser: Dubai Films and Games Commission (DFGC), under the Dubai Media Council

  • Submission deadline: October 25, 2026

  • Student prize: AED 10,000

  • Professional prize: AED 50,000

  • Planned official selection: 55 films

  • Award categories: Five categories covering the Grand Jury Prize, fiction, documentary, animation and AI films

  • Official website: https://dfgc.ae/en/events/stories-of-our-determination/

The organisers have announced ten awards across five categories. The published announcement does not provide a complete breakdown of the prize money for every award.

Who Can Participate in the Dubai Film Competition?

The competition is open to Emirati and UAE-based filmmakers of different nationalities. Students, first-time filmmakers, emerging creators and professionals are among the groups encouraged to participate.

Indian expatriates and other international residents living in the UAE may therefore be eligible in principle. However, applicants should check the official submission terms for any residency documentation, age requirements or team eligibility conditions.

The public announcement does not clearly establish whether filmmakers living outside the UAE can enter independently or whether overseas team members may participate.

Four Official Themes for Film Submissions

Participants should develop their films around one of the competition's four themes:

1. Those Who Protected Us

Stories highlighting the people and institutions that protect and support the community, including emergency responders and other frontline personnel.

2. One Nation, Many Communities

Films showing how people from different nationalities and backgrounds cooperate, support one another and contribute to the UAE.

3. Life Continued

Stories about daily life, resilience and the people who help essential activities continue during challenging circumstances.

4. Stronger Toward the Future

Films exploring ambition, innovation, determination and the UAE's aspirations for the future.

A focused story with relatable characters is likely to be more effective than trying to cover several themes in a single short film.

Film Duration, Language and Submission Rules

According to published secondary reporting, films must be no longer than five minutes, including opening titles and closing credits. The reports also describe the requirement for original work created for the competition and state that films in languages other than Arabic or English must include subtitles in one of those languages.

The competition accepts different filmmaking approaches, including fiction, documentaries, animation, experimental films, hybrid formats, AI-generated or AI-assisted films, and mobile-phone filmmaking.

Secondary coverage reports that entry is free. However, applicants should verify the current terms before submitting.

The detailed technical requirements need particular attention. The official launch announcement does not establish every specification concerning video resolution, file format, upload size, subtitle format, music licensing or AI disclosure. Check the official submission portal for the final requirements rather than relying on assumptions.

Can You Submit an AI-Generated or Mobile-Phone Film?

Yes, the published competition information includes AI-generated and AI-assisted films as well as mobile-phone filmmaking. The award programme also includes a Best AI Film category.

This makes the competition relevant to creators who do not have access to expensive cameras or a professional production studio. A smartphone can be sufficient for producing a compelling story, provided the final film meets the competition's technical requirements.

For AI-assisted productions, applicants should pay particular attention to originality, copyright and any disclosure requirements in the final rules. The public announcement does not fully explain how these requirements will be assessed.

Dubai Film Competition 2026 Award Categories and Prizes

The announced categories are:

  • Grand Jury Prize

  • Best Fiction Film

  • Best Documentary Film

  • Best Animated Film

  • Best AI Film

The competition plans to recognise ten awards in total and select 55 films for the official selection.

The announced prize values are AED 10,000 for student prizes and AED 50,000 for professional prizes. Applicants should check the official terms to understand the exact distribution of awards, eligibility for each prize and any additional conditions.

The organisers have described a selection process involving eligibility and technical evaluation, preliminary online selection and assessment by an independent jury. A detailed public scoring rubric has not been established in the launch announcement.

How to Apply for the Dubai Film Competition 2026

Filmmakers should begin by reviewing the competition's official page and confirming that their proposed film fits one of the four themes.

Before submitting, applicants should:

  1. Confirm their eligibility and any residency documentation requirements.

  2. Complete an original film based on one official theme.

  3. Check that the film meets the maximum duration and language requirements.

  4. Prepare subtitles where necessary and verify music and footage rights.

  5. Review the official technical specifications and submission terms.

  6. Complete the application through the official portal before October 25, 2026.

Official application page: https://dfgc.ae/en/events/stories-of-our-determination/

The launch announcement confirms the deadline, but the live status of the submission form should be checked directly. If submissions are not yet available, consult the official page for updates. An expression of interest should not be treated as a completed film submission.

Does Filming in Dubai Require a Permit?

Filmmakers should check location permissions before recording footage for a competition entry. Dubai has filming-permit procedures, and requirements can vary according to the location, type of production and intended use.

Filming inside a shopping mall, hotel, private property or government facility may require permission from the relevant authority or property owner. The fact that a film is being made for a competition does not automatically exempt the production from applicable rules.

For location-specific guidance, consult the Dubai Film and TV Commission: https://www.filmdubai.gov.ae/s/

Applicants should also obtain appropriate consent from identifiable participants and ensure that music, footage and other third-party material can legally be used.

Important Questions Filmmakers Should Check Before Applying

Some practical details remain unclear in the public announcement and should be confirmed with the organisers:

  • Whether proof of UAE residency is compulsory and which documents are accepted.

  • Whether international collaborators can be included in a production team.

  • The required video resolution, file format and maximum upload size.

  • The exact rules for previously published films and online releases.

  • Whether AI tools must be disclosed and how AI-generated material is evaluated.

  • The division of prize money among the ten awards.

  • The date and venue of the final screening and awards ceremony.

These details may be included in the full submission terms even if they are absent from the initial announcement.