Xposure Festival is a curated platform for contemporary filmmaking that prioritises strong storytelling, visual craft, and cultural relevance.

The programme brings together fiction, documentary, socially engaged work, and innovative filmmaking that explores how moving images shape understanding and perspective.

The festival presents a carefully selected programme of films from emerging and established filmmakers, alongside talks, panel discussions, and practical workshops led by industry professionals. Xposure Film Awards recognise excellence across four categories: Narrative Short Film, Documentary Short Film, Environmental or Social Impact Film, and Action, Innovation and New Tools.

Alongside the awards, Xposure also curates non award screenings for films selected for their artistic and thematic strength. Xposure Festival offers a focused space for filmmakers and audiences to engage with meaningful cinema. Submissions are accepted via FilmFreeway.

Awards & Prizes

At Xposure Festival, we recognise outstanding achievement in filmmaking through four focused award categories. Each award honours clarity of storytelling, strength of craft, and films that demonstrate purpose, discipline, and creative intent within their chosen form.

The Narrative Short Film Award recognises excellence in scripted storytelling. This category highlights films that demonstrate strong direction, performance, visual language, and narrative coherence within the short film format. The winner receives £3,000, and the runner-up £1,500.

The Documentary Short Film Award honours exceptional non-fiction filmmaking rooted in research, access, and ethical storytelling. Films in this category are judged on editorial integrity, depth of perspective, and the ability to communicate real-world subjects with focus and impact. The winner receives £3,000, and the runner-up £1,500.

The Environmental or Social Impact Film Award recognises films that engage meaningfully with environmental, humanitarian, or social issues. Submissions may be documentary, fiction, or hybrid in form, but must demonstrate responsible representation, insight, and genuine engagement with the subject matter. The winner receives £3,000, and the runner-up £1,500.

The Action, Innovation and New Tools Award celebrates high-energy visual storytelling driven by momentum and inventive production approaches. This category welcomes films that integrate advanced cinematography, virtual production, AI-assisted workflows, or emerging tools, where technology strengthens narrative impact rather than replacing it. The winner receives £3,000, and the runner-up £1,500.

Rules & Terms

Nominees selected for the Xposure Festival must adhere to the following guidelines to ensure smooth participation and a successful nomination process.

Quarter-finalists must provide a 90-second cut of their film, suitable for showcasing during the awards ceremony. This excerpt should effectively capture the film’s essence and key highlights.

All nominees and quarter-finalists must submit a high-resolution, vertically oriented movie poster. This will be used for festival promotions, screening schedules, and award presentations. Films without an approved poster may not be eligible for promotion within the festival.

Entrants are responsible for ensuring their film is readily accessible for download for judging and potential screening during the festival. Films not available for download may be excluded from the judging process.

Submissions must not contain foul language, sexually explicit content, or any form of full or partial nudity. Films that violate these content guidelines may be disqualified.

Films must be in English or include clearly visible English subtitles.

Nominees must create an account on the Xposure Awards platform. This account will be used to submit the 90-second cut for quarter-finalists and ensure seamless communication throughout the nomination process.

Nominees must comply with all festival rules and regulations, including those related to film duration, format, and language. Nominees must also provide accurate and up-to-date contact information on the submission platform to receive important notifications.

Nominees should be aware of the cultural and social sensitivities in Sharjah, UAE, ensuring that their films align with these norms. Films containing explicit nudity, offensive language, or strong political ideologies may not be accepted for screening. Films that uphold cultural and social guidelines while demonstrating creativity and artistic excellence are more likely to be selected for screening. Failure to comply with content guidelines may result in rejection from the festival.

Prizes will only be issued at the awards ceremony. Winners and runners-up must be present or have an authorised representative to receive their award.

For any enquiries or feedback regarding the submission process, nominees can refer to the festival’s official website or contact the designated festival representatives.

By submitting a film to the Xposure Festival, nominees agree to abide by these rules and guidelines. Their contribution to the world of visual storytelling is greatly valued, and we look forward to celebrating their work at our festival.

19 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Majid Farzolahi

    I would like to thank the xposure festival for their hospitality and for choosing my film as the first place winner. It was a good experience for me. I hope to be able to submit another film to the festival this year.

    February 2026
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  • Yerbol Adlbek

    The Xposure International Film Awards was a fantastic experience, and I was deeply honoured to have my documentary Whispers of the Grassland nominated. I was gutted I couldn’t attend in person, and it would be wonderful if future nominees could also have their travel and accommodation covered.

    February 2026
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  • PJ Martínez

    A great festival, an honour that my short film was nominated.

    The only drawback I have is perhaps the communication, sometimes scarce and above all, not receiving a diploma or laurel to be able to subsequently accredit this A great festival, an honour that my short film was nominated.

    The only drawback I have is perhaps the communication, sometimes scarce and above all, not receiving a diploma or laurel to be able to subsequently accredit this achievement.

    March 2025
    Helpful
  • Bahr Films Company

    Special Thanks to all of festival’s team

    March 2025
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  • Diogo Andrade

    Xposure is an exceptionally well-organized festival of remarkable quality. Beyond showcasing outstanding films, it’s also a hub for photography enthusiasts—offering world-class exhibitions where you can meet some of the best photographers on the planet, as well as influential figures from the cinematic world. The festival itself is vast, brimming with activities that enrich both your creative insight and industry knowledge. Moreover, the warmth and genuine interest the organizers show toward each submitted work make you feel truly valued. It’s an inspiring environment that any filmmaker or photographer would benefit from experiencing.

    March 2025
    Helpful