The Ajman Film Festival URBAN VISIONS. Architecture and the Future of Cities, is a joint project of the Municipality & Planning Department of Ajman and City Space Architecture, an Italian non-profit cultural association, it is an international short film festival showcasing outstanding submissions from around the world, the first of its kind in the Gulf and surrounding Arab region. It will create an attractive, competitive atmosphere in the Emirate, drawing in tourists and champions of industry.

Festival objectives:
1. Presenting the diverse realities of cities and communities locally and globally.
2. Understand the various issues faced in urban environments, and learn about innovative solutions for our future world.
3. Enhancing dialogue between cultures and communities that coexist in cities around the world.
4. Promoting cultural and artistic initiatives, while preserving our urban and architectural heritage.
5. Supporting a thriving knowledge-based economy.
6. Reinforcing partnerships with national and international cultural and artistic institutions.
7. Promoting public awareness of the existing architectural and urban design of public spaces.
8. Studying, disseminating, and participating in architectural and urban culture with a clear goal: define a shared vision for the future of well-being and quality of life.
9. Enhancing the roles of art, architecture, design, and urban planning.
10. Knowledge exchange with a distinguished group of academic and professionals, planners, designers and artists.

Category: Architecture and the future of cities
(Professional and studio films, city/cities of their choice)
FIRST PRIZE € 2000,00
2 honorable mentions - certificate of excellence

Category: Architecture and the future of cities - Emirate of Ajman
(Professional and studio films)
FIRST PRIZE € 2000,00
2 honorable mentions - certificate of excellence

Category: Architecture and the future of cities
(Indie and student films, city/cities of their choice)
FIRST PRIZE € 1000,00
2 honorable mentions - certificate of excellence

Category: Architecture and the future of cities - Emirate of Ajman
(Indie and student films)
FIRST PRIZE € 1000,00
2 honorable mentions - certificate of excellence

Film duration should not exceed 30 minutes.
Accepted genres: documentary, experimental, fictional, non-fictional or animation.
All languages are welcome, with mandatory English subtitles and optional Arabic subtitles. Only one submission per applicant is permitted.
Submitting a film to the Festival means that all applicants accept the terms and conditions set forth in this competition.

The Municipality and Planning Department of Ajman and City Space Architecture do not bear any responsibility for intellectual property rights, and any responsibility or claims that may arise in the future rest solely with the applicant.
The films submitted are the property of the applicants. The Municipality and Planning Department, Ajman and City Space Architecture are entitled to reproduce the works submitted during the “Urban Visions. Architecture and the Future of Cities” film festival and during other cinematic events organized by either entity.
Films should be in accordance with Federal Decree Law No. 2 of 2015 on Combating Discrimination and Hatred stated by H. H Sheikh Khalifa in July 2015, which aims to protect the population of UAE and enhance social security.
The law is intended to provide a solid legislative ground for the environment of tolerance, co-existence and acceptance. It aims to fight discrimination against individuals or groups based on religion, caste, doctrine, race, colour or ethnic origin.
The law criminalises acts that incite religious hatred and/or insult religion through any form of expression, including speech and the written word—books, pamphlets or online media. The law prohibits any act that would be considered as an insult to God, His prophets or apostles, holy books, houses of worship, or graveyards.
The law prohibits any entity or group established specifically to provoke religious hatred and recommends stringent punishments for groups or supporters of any organisations or individuals that are associated with hate crimes.
It also bars any kind of events such as conferences and meetings within the UAE, which are organised with the sole purpose of sowing seeds of discrimination, discord or hatred against individuals or groups.
Receiving financial support for such activities is also punishable under the new law.
The law encourages anyone involved in any activity that violates the law to submit themselves voluntarily before the authorities and has provisions allowing the courts to waive penalties in such cases.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Jimi figueiredo

    Urban Visions is a very nice festival, with focus on architecture, and its great to watch movies based in one different theme. Festival producers gave us a good support in a general way.

    March 2022
  • Tim Bingham

    Excellent communication from the hosts

    March 2022
  • Excellent collection of films and wonderful staff.

    March 2022
  • John Corcoran

    I couldn't attend unfortunately but it seemed to have been run well. There was plenty of communication between myself and the festival and the site and streaming process was well presented and well run. Would love to have gone to it, well done on a great festival !!

    March 2022
  • We loved being part of the event

    thank you

    March 2022