Dubai Indie Film Festival is an online based bi-monthly festival. DIFF is looking for independent projects from all genres, particularly low or no-budget ones, as well as from all countries, especially from those traditionally underrepresented in the global film industry. The submitted projects are judged through private screenings by a random team of invited experts from academia and film industry from the region. From the pool of official selection, which has a very competitive acceptance rate, DIFF chose the nominees and award winners of the edition.

Awards:
Best Asian Short
Best International Narrative Short
Best Documentary Short
Best Animated Short
Best Experimental Short
Best Thriller Short
Best Horror Short
Best Religious Short
Best Peace Short
Best Women’a issue Short
Best Micro Short
Best Actor in Short
Best Actress in Short
Best Student Short
Best First-time Filmmaker
Best Script in Short
Best Unproduced Short Script
Best Editing in Short
Best Composer in Short
Best Music in Short
Best Cinematography in Short
Best Web Series
Best TV Pilot

A) Eligibility Requirements
1. We accept films of all genres.
2. Films completed on or after Jan 1, 2016 are eligible for consideration
4. Short feature films that are available for public online viewing are eligible
6. Multiple entries from the same submitter are accepted. A separate submission and a separate entry fee must accompany each entry.
7. All entries must be either in Arabic or English or subtitled in any of these two languages. Dialogue lists are not accepted.
8. Entrant confirms and warrants required legal authority to submit the entry to the Festival and to use all music, images, and content in the entry.
9. We reserve the right to change the date of the event; if the date changes, we will inform the participants by email.

B) Submission Guidelines

1. Films must be submitted via online screener hosted by Vimeo, on DVD or on Blu-ray disc.
2. Only complete entries (including fee payment and screener) will be considered.
3. Entrants are permitted to submit works-in-progress (i.e., without final color correction or sound mixing), but please note that the programming committee will only consider the version submitted. Subsequent cuts or replacement copies will only be accepted at the request of the programming committee.

D) Judging & Selection
Films are selected for Festival presentation by the programming committee. If a film is selected, the Festival office will contact the entrant by phone or email. The Festival does not provide feedback or screening notes to entries that are not selected.

All competitive film categories are judged during the Festival.

E) Entry Fees
Each entry must be accompanied by the appropriate entry fee. Entry fees are not refundable. Fees cover registration, registration notification, consideration by the programming department, and notification of the results. These fees may be paid by credit card (VISA, MasterCard, or American Express).

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Beautiful Festival, honored to have won the award for Best Music in Short for "Wish.
    I thank the jury and the festival staff impeccable in providing information, I highly recommend it.
    Sincerely
    Carlo Chiarotti

    March 2024
  • Carlos Perez

    Festival was well organized and supportive of writers.

    March 2024
  • Barry Samson

    Dubai Independent Film Festival is excellent! We are so honored to have our short "Cats and Husbands" chosen as a Semi-Finalist!
    Thank You Dubai!

    March 2024
  • Joe Gandurski

    Thanks for selecting my script as finalist. It is gratifying to know that my work is being viewed throughout the globe.

    March 2024
  • Katsi'tsakwas Ellen Gabriel

    Thank you for this great honour of selecting Kanatenhs - When the Pine Needles Fall
    this is a great thrill!

    March 2024