HOLLYWOOD, CA September 19, 2025 – In an effort to showcase diverse independent voices and emerging filmmakers throughout the Middle East, HollyShorts, one of the world’s leading platforms for short form storytelling, is inaugurating its first HollyShorts Dubai, to be held December 12-14, 2025 at the Studio One Hotel in Dubai, with an open call for short film submissions beginning September 19, 2025.
As announced earlier this year, HollyShorts is initiating a global expansion of its highly popular short film festival with the goal of reaching out to short form filmmakers in their own markets. HollyShorts Dubai creates unique opportunities for filmmakers in the Middle East to not only participate in vibrant creative discussions, potentially lucrative business idea exchanges, and development workshops as part of the three-day event, the event also ensures global recognition for productions screened as part of HollyShorts Dubai’s short film competition. As an added bonus, submissions winning the Best Animated, Best Live Action and Best Documentary awards at the Dubai festival earn a definite screening slot at the 2026 HollyShorts festival in Hollywood. This exclusive guarantee includes the promise that all award-winning shorts from HollyShorts 2026 also qualify for 2027 Oscar award consideration.
“We are looking to provide filmmakers in the Middle East with a pathway to qualify for the Oscar awards in different short film categories,” said Jeff Pryor, strategic advisor to HollyShorts who is overseeing the Dubai effort. “Our festival is acting as a bridge to connect Hollywood with the filmmaking community throughout the Middle East. Since making our initial announcement, when we confirmed that we are literally bringing the Oscar race to their doorstep, the creative communities’ reaction has been overwhelming.”
Starting September 19, filmmakers from throughout the Middle East are invited to submit their latest work via: https://filmfreeway.com/HollyShortsDubai.
In addition to screenings, Pryor noted that HollyShorts Dubai will also feature discussion panels with leading filmmakers, professional development workshops, and a plethora of networking events as well as lavish “Hollywood” style parties.
HollyShorts Dubai Milestone dates:
- September 19 – Submission open (https://filmfreeway.com/HollyShortsDubai)
- September 26 – Early Bird Submission Deadline (Early Bird Submission fee $35USD per submission)
- October 17 – Regular Submission Deadline (Regular Submission fee $45USD per submission)
- November 7 – Late Submission Deadline (Late Submission fee $55USD per submission)
- November 28 – Extended Submission Deadline (Extended Submission fee $65USD per submission)
- December 3 – Notification Deadline
- December 12 – Festival Opening Night Celebration
- December 13-14—Screenings, Director Q&A, Discussion Panels, Social Mixers & Networking parties
- December 14 – Awards Ceremony
About HollyShorts
Founded in 2005, HollyShorts has become the flagship event at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood. This past August, for example, HollyShorts screened over 400 short films culled from a record breaking 7,000 submissions. The four winning submissions (one each in the categories of Animated, Documentary, Live Action, Best Short) from this year’s festival are now eligible for Oscar award consideration in 2026.
