Golden Dunes Dubai International Film Festival (1)

xxThe Best Feature Film category honors exceptional storytelling, direction, and cinematic craft in narrative films over 60 minutes. Open to all genres and filmmakers worldwide, this is the flagship award of the Golden Dunes Dubai International Film Festival.

Submissions will be judged on originality, performances, visual style, editing, and overall impact. Whether your film is independently produced or backed by a studio, we welcome powerful, meaningful, and bold stories.

The winner receives the Golden Dunes Award for Best Feature Film, official festival laurels, media exposure, and an exclusive screening at the Paramount Hotel Theatre in Dubai. The accolade will be awarded during the live awards ceremony, attended by international filmmakers and industry professionals.

The Best Short Film category celebrates powerful storytelling in compact form. Open to narrative, documentary, animated, and experimental films under 30 minutes, this category honors creativity, innovation, and emotional impact across all genres.

We invite submissions from emerging and established filmmakers worldwide who bring bold ideas to life through short-form cinema. Entries will be evaluated on originality, direction, performance, technical execution, and storytelling strength.

The winning film will receive the Golden Dunes Award for Best Short Film, official festival laurels, media coverage, and an exclusive screening at the Paramount Hotel Theatre in Dubai. The award will be presented live during the Golden Dunes Awards Ceremony, recognizing outstanding achievement on the global stage.

The Best Animated Film category celebrates creativity, imagination, and innovation in the art of animation. Open to 2D, 3D, stop-motion, and experimental animated films, this category welcomes both short and feature-length works that push visual boundaries and deliver powerful stories through animated form.

Whether your project is whimsical, emotional, satirical, or surreal, we’re looking for animated films that showcase originality, technical excellence, and artistic vision.

The winner will receive the Golden Dunes Award for Best Animated Film, official festival laurels, media exposure, and an exclusive screening at the Paramount Hotel Theatre in Dubai. The award will be presented live during the Golden Dunes Awards Ceremony, honoring outstanding animated storytelling on an international stage.

The Best Documentary category honors compelling non-fiction storytelling that informs, inspires, and engages. Open to short and feature-length documentaries, this category welcomes films that explore real-world issues, untold stories, or unique perspectives across any subject or genre.

We are looking for documentaries that combine factual depth with cinematic artistry—works that resonate emotionally and intellectually, whether investigative, biographical, environmental, cultural, or experimental.

The winner will receive the Golden Dunes Award for Best Documentary, official festival laurels, press exposure, and an exclusive screening at the Paramount Hotel Theatre in Dubai. The accolade will be presented at the live awards ceremony, spotlighting the film’s impact on both screen and society.

The Best AI Short Film category recognizes innovation at the intersection of storytelling and technology. Open to films under 30 minutes that significantly incorporate artificial intelligence in any part of the creative process—writing, animation, direction, editing, or VFX—this category highlights bold experimentation and future-facing cinema.

We welcome submissions from global creators using AI tools to push narrative boundaries and redefine visual storytelling. Films will be judged on originality, concept execution, aesthetic design, and creative use of AI.

The winning entry will receive the Golden Dunes Award for Best AI Short Film, official festival laurels, media spotlight, and an exclusive screening at the Paramount Hotel Theatre in Dubai. The accolade will be awarded live at the Golden Dunes Awards Ceremony, celebrating cinematic innovation.

The Best AI-Commercial category celebrates branded content and advertising that harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to deliver cutting-edge storytelling, design, or marketing impact. Open to commercials, promos, or branded short films under 5 minutes, this category honors innovation in AI-assisted content creation—from concept generation to editing, animation, or effects.

Submissions will be judged on creativity, visual execution, brand alignment, and innovative use of AI technology.

The winner will receive the Golden Dunes Award for Best AI-Commercial, official festival laurels, press exposure, and an exclusive screening at the Paramount Hotel Theatre in Dubai. The award will be presented live during the Golden Dunes Awards Ceremony, spotlighting the future of branded cinematic storytelling.

The Best AI Music Video category honors visually striking and creatively bold music videos that incorporate artificial intelligence in their concept, production, or post-production process. Open to music videos of any genre and style, this category celebrates the fusion of sound, story, and AI-powered innovation.

Whether AI was used for visual effects, animation, editing, or idea generation, we’re looking for work that pushes creative boundaries and delivers an unforgettable audio-visual experience.

The winner will receive the Golden Dunes Award for Best AI Music Video, official festival laurels, media exposure, and an exclusive screening at the Paramount Hotel Theatre in Dubai. The accolade will be presented live during the Golden Dunes Awards Ceremony, honoring next-gen creativity in music and film.

The Best Experimental Film category is dedicated to bold, boundary-pushing cinema that challenges traditional storytelling and explores new forms of visual and emotional expression. Open to short or feature-length works, this category welcomes films that embrace abstraction, non-linear structure, mixed media, or unconventional techniques.

We encourage submissions that break the rules—whether through sound, visuals, editing, or narrative form—and evoke thought, feeling, or sensory immersion beyond the ordinary.

The winner will receive the Golden Dunes Award for Best Experimental Film, official festival laurels, international media exposure, and an exclusive screening at the Paramount Hotel Theatre in Dubai. The accolade will be awarded live at the Golden Dunes Awards Ceremony, recognizing innovation at the edge of cinema.

The Best Student Film category celebrates the next generation of filmmakers and visionary storytellers. Open to short or feature-length films created by current students or recent graduates, this category recognizes outstanding work produced within an academic setting.

All genres and styles are welcome—from narrative and documentary to animation and experimental—as long as the film showcases originality, passion, and craft. A valid student ID or proof of enrollment is required upon submission.

The winner will receive the Golden Dunes Award for Best Student Film, official festival laurels, press exposure, and an exclusive screening at the Paramount Hotel Theatre in Dubai. The award will be presented live at the Golden Dunes Awards Ceremony, honoring emerging talent on a global stage.

The Best Arab Film category celebrates exceptional storytelling from across the Arab world. Open to short and feature-length films by Arab filmmakers or films that explore Arab culture, identity, or narratives, this category honors authentic voices and bold cinematic visions from the region.

All genres are welcome—narrative, documentary, animation, or experimental—as long as the film reflects the spirit, complexity, or richness of Arab life and storytelling.

The winning entry will receive the Golden Dunes Award for Best Arab Film, official festival laurels, regional and international media exposure, and an exclusive screening at the Paramount Hotel Theatre in Dubai. The award will be presented live at the Golden Dunes Awards Ceremony, shining a spotlight on Arab talent and perspective in global cinema.

The Best Director category honors visionary leadership and artistic excellence behind the camera. Open to directors of feature-length or short films, this award recognizes outstanding achievement in cinematic storytelling, performance direction, visual composition, and emotional impact.

Whether working on a large-scale production or an intimate indie project, eligible directors must demonstrate a clear creative vision, mastery of craft, and the ability to elevate every element of the film.

The winner will receive the Golden Dunes Award for Best Director, official festival laurels, international media coverage, and an exclusive screening at the Paramount Hotel Theatre in Dubai. The accolade will be presented live during the Golden Dunes Awards Ceremony, spotlighting exceptional directing talent on a global stage.

The Best Actor category honors an outstanding lead performance that brings depth, authenticity, and emotional power to the screen. Open to performances in both short and feature-length films, this award recognizes exceptional talent in embodying a character with nuance, presence, and cinematic impact.

We welcome submissions across all genres and languages, celebrating actors who command the screen and elevate the story through their craft.

The winner will receive the Golden Dunes Award for Best Actor, official festival laurels, international media exposure, and an exclusive screening at the Paramount Hotel Theatre in Dubai. The accolade will be awarded live during the Golden Dunes Awards Ceremony, recognizing excellence in performance on the world stage.

The Best Actress category honors a powerful lead performance that captivates audiences through emotional depth, authenticity, and commanding screen presence. Open to performances in both short and feature-length films, this award recognizes actresses who bring their characters to life with exceptional skill and resonance.

All genres and languages are welcome, as long as the performance demonstrates artistic excellence and enhances the film’s impact.

The winner will receive the Golden Dunes Award for Best Actress, official festival laurels, international media recognition, and an exclusive screening at the Paramount Hotel Theatre in Dubai. The accolade will be presented live during the Golden Dunes Awards Ceremony, celebrating outstanding female performance in global cinema.

The Best Cinematographer category honors exceptional visual storytelling through the lens. Open to both short and feature-length films, this award recognizes outstanding work in lighting, composition, camera movement, and visual tone that enhances the emotional and narrative impact of a film.

We welcome submissions from all genres and styles that demonstrate technical excellence and artistic vision in cinematography.

The winner will receive the Golden Dunes Award for Best Cinematographer, official festival laurels, media exposure, and an exclusive screening at the Paramount Hotel Theatre in Dubai. The accolade will be awarded live during the Golden Dunes Awards Ceremony, recognizing excellence behind the camera on a global stage.

The Best Editing category celebrates excellence in post-production storytelling—recognizing editors who shape rhythm, pace, and emotional flow to elevate a film’s narrative. Open to both short and feature-length films, this award honors precision, creativity, and seamless execution in the edit room.

All genres are welcome, from fast-paced action to intimate drama, as long as the editing contributes meaningfully to the film’s impact and clarity.

The winner will receive the Golden Dunes Award for Best Editing, official festival laurels, press coverage, and an exclusive screening at the Paramount Hotel Theatre in Dubai. The accolade will be presented live at the Golden Dunes Awards Ceremony, honoring mastery in cinematic construction.

The Best Sound Design category honors outstanding achievement in crafting immersive and impactful soundscapes that elevate a film’s emotional and cinematic power. Open to short and feature-length films, this award recognizes excellence in the creative use of sound effects, ambient design, Foley, and audio layering.

We welcome submissions that demonstrate innovation, technical mastery, and storytelling through sound—across all genres and production scales.

The winner will receive the Golden Dunes Award for Best Sound Design, official festival laurels, media exposure, and an exclusive screening at the Paramount Hotel Theatre in Dubai. The accolade will be awarded live during the Golden Dunes Awards Ceremony, spotlighting the unseen art of sonic storytelling.

The Best Original Score category honors outstanding musical composition that enhances a film’s emotional depth, tone, and storytelling power. Open to short and feature-length films, this award recognizes composers whose original music elevates the cinematic experience with creativity, harmony, and emotional resonance.

All genres and musical styles are welcome, as long as the score is original and composed specifically for the film.

The winner will receive the Golden Dunes Award for Best Original Score, official festival laurels, media exposure, and an exclusive screening at the Paramount Hotel Theatre in Dubai. The accolade will be presented live at the Golden Dunes Awards Ceremony, celebrating musical excellence in cinema.