We do love an open call. In an industry still overly committed to closed circles, inherited access and people who somehow have both “no budget” and an executive producer uncle, open calls remain one of the few proper ways to discover talent beyond money, networks and strategic dinner invitations. And whenever I spot one like this, my inner screenwriter, who is currently “working on his synopsis” in the most ceremonial sense, quietly suggests that perhaps I should keep the information to myself and apply in peace. But no. I am choosing generosity. So here you are, young filmmakers: a genuinely worthwhile chance to get your short film made.

Sharjah Art Foundation has opened applications for the ninth edition of its Short Film Production Grant, presented in conjunction with Sharjah Film Platform (SFP), the Foundation’s annual festival dedicated to independent cinema and moving image.

The grant is designed to support the completion of short films that explore and expand the possibilities of contemporary filmmaking. Selected recipients will also have the opportunity to premiere their films at a future edition of Sharjah Film Platform.

The grant is organised by Sharjah Art Foundation, one of the region’s leading contemporary art institutions. The Foundation acts as an advocate, catalyst and producer of contemporary art in the Emirate of Sharjah and the wider region, while remaining in active dialogue with the international arts community.

Its programme is broad and ambitious. The Foundation supports the production and presentation of contemporary art, preserves and celebrates the distinct culture of the region, and promotes a shared understanding of art’s transformational role.

Its core initiatives include the long-running Sharjah Biennial, which brings together contemporary artists from around the world; the annual March Meeting, a gathering of international arts professionals and artists; as well as grants, residencies, commissions, travelling exhibitions and scholarly publications. In other words, this is not a random call. It comes from an institution with a serious track record.

The open call welcomes independent filmmakers of all ages, backgrounds and regions, and there are no restrictions on genre. Documentary, fiction, experimental, hybrid, something that deeply alarms traditional festival programmers — all are theoretically welcome.

For the purposes of this grant, a short film is defined as a film with a total runtime of 50 minutes or less, including credits.

Applicants are required to submit:

And, because every open call eventually becomes a test of whether you can read carefully, a few additional rules matter:

A total of 120,000 AED — approximately 30,000 USD — will be allocated across selected projects. The number of awardees and the amount granted to each project will depend on the specific needs of the selected films.

So this it a single grand prize situation, nor is it one of those calls where twelve people receive a meaningful-looking certificate and the price of half a lens rental. The money is intended to support real production and postproduction needs, and applicants are expected to show clearly how much funding they need and how it will be used.

According to the guidelines, grant money would normally go towards production and postproduction, including fee-based activities such as filming, editing, music production, image and sound licensing, translation, and subtitling.

The required three-minute pitch is there to help the jury understand both the premise of the film and the director’s vision. This can be very simple: applicants may speak directly to camera, show a trailer or compilation of previous work, or present any other material that clearly conveys the essence of the project. It doesn't need to be overproduced. It does need to make sense.

Applicants are also asked to submit a realistic production schedule, covering both production and postproduction, and a workable budget that shows projected expenses and the requested allocation of grant funds. So yes, talent matters, but so does the ability to convince strangers that your plan extends beyond vibes.

The open call runs from April 20 to May 28 2026, and the final submission deadline is 28 May 2026 at 11:59 pm UAE time (GMT +4).