Short Film Production Grant

Sharjah Art Foundation invites local and international filmmakers to apply for the ninth edition of the Sharjah Film Platform (SFP) Short Film Production Grant.

Offered in conjunction with SFP—the Foundation’s annual festival celebrating independent cinema and moving image—the grant supports the completion of short films that explore and expand the possibilities of contemporary filmmaking. Selected recipients will have the opportunity to premiere their films at a future edition of SFP.

The open call welcomes applications from independent filmmakers of all ages, backgrounds and regions, with no restrictions on genre. For this grant, a short film is defined as a work with a total runtime of 50 minutes or less, including credits.

The grant allocates a total of 120,000 AED (approximately 30,000 USD). The number of awardees and the individual grant amounts will be determined based on project needs. The deadline for submission is 11:59 pm UAE time (GMT +4) on 28 May 2026.

Applicants are required to submit a recorded three-minute pitch (see application information below). Potential recipients will be assessed on the overall vision for their film, including genre, theme, structure and plot; the originality of their script; and their creative and technical skills.

Find out more here.