Published on 20 April 2026
Sharjah Art Foundation announces an open call for the ninth cycle of its annual Short Film Production Grant, presented in conjunction with Sharjah Film Platform (SFP), the Foundation’s annual festival dedicated to independent cinema and moving image.
Open to filmmakers of all ages, backgrounds and regions, with no restrictions on genre, the grant supports the completion of short films that explore and expand the possibilities of contemporary filmmaking.
A total of AED 120,000 (approximately USD 30,000) will be allocated across selected projects. The number of recipients and individual grant amounts will be determined based on the specific needs of each proposal. Selected projects will be also considered for a premiere at a future edition of SFP, providing a platform for emerging and established voices to present new work within an international context.
Applicants are required to submit a recorded three-minute pitch alongside a script, budget plan and production schedule. Entries will be evaluated based on the strength of the project’s concept, narrative structure and artistic approach, as well as the feasibility of its production plan. For the purposes of this grant, a short film is defined as a work with a total runtime of 50 minutes or less, including credits
The open call runs from 20 April to 28 May 2026, with a deadline of 11:59 pm UAE time (GMT +4). Late submissions will not be considered.
Through this initiative, Sharjah Art Foundation continues its commitment to supporting filmmakers and fostering new forms of storytelling that engage critically with the moving image.
Sharjah Film Platform (SFP) is an annual festival of independent cinema and experimental filmmaking where audiences can discover new approaches to film and art. The 10-day event, including a range of regional and international films, talks by filmmakers and industry professionals, workshops and gatherings, is centred around Mirage City Cinema, the open-air theatre in Sharjah’s historical quarter. Organised by Sharjah Art Foundation, SFP foregrounds recent cinematic achievements by international filmmakers and artists, noteworthy classics from around the region as well as experimental films that challenge the idea of what film practice is today.
Sharjah Art Foundation is an advocate, catalyst and producer of contemporary art within the Emirate of Sharjah and the surrounding region, in dialogue with the international arts community. The Foundation advances an experimental and wide-ranging programmatic model that supports the production and presentation of contemporary art, preserves and celebrates the distinct culture of the region and encourages a shared understanding of the transformational role of art. The Foundation’s core initiatives include the long-running Sharjah Biennial, featuring contemporary artists from around the world; the annual March Meeting, a convening of international arts professionals and artists; grants and residencies for artists, curators and cultural producers; ambitious and experimental commissions and a range of travelling exhibitions and scholarly publications.
Established in 2009 to expand programmes beyond the Sharjah Biennial, which launched in 1993, the Foundation is a critical resource for artists and cultural organisations in the Gulf and a conduit for local, regional and international developments in contemporary art. The Foundation’s deep commitment to developing and sustaining the cultural life and heritage of Sharjah is reflected through year-round exhibitions, performances, screenings and educational programmes in the city of Sharjah and across the Emirate, often hosted in historic buildings that have been repurposed as cultural and community centres. A growing collection reflects the Foundation’s support of contemporary artists in the realisation of new work and its recognition of the contributions made by pioneering modern artists from the region and around the world.
Sharjah Art Foundation is a legally independent public body established by Emiri Decree and supported by government funding, grants from national and international nonprofits and cultural organisations, corporate sponsors and individual patrons. Hoor Al Qasimi serves as President and Director. All exhibitions are free and open to the public.
Sharjah is the third largest of the seven United Arab Emirates, and the only one bridging the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Reflecting the deep commitment to the arts, architectural preservation and cultural education embraced by its ruler, Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Sharjah is home to more than 20 museums and has long been known as the cultural hub of the United Arab Emirates. It was named UNESCO's Arab Capital of Culture for 1998 and the UNESCO World Book Capital for 2019.
Alyazeyah Al Marri
alyazeyah@sharjahart.org
+971 (0)6 5444113