Film Projects Submission Rules & Regulations

The Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth (SIFF) invites filmmakers and producers aged 18 and above to submit their short film projects (up to 30 minutes) for the SIFF Film Pitching Session. This is a unique opportunity to present your project to a panel of industry professionals during the SIFF Film Market.

This first edition is a session with no awards, focused on giving filmmakers exposure and connecting them with potential supporters and funders.

Eligibility

  • Applicants must be 18 years or older.
  • Open to all nationalities.
  • Projects must be designed for children (up to 17 years old) and youth audiences (18 to 25 years old).
  • Projects must be short films (maximum 30 minutes).
  • Projects may be in any development stage: concept, development, pre-production, or early post-production.
  • All genres are accepted (animation, documentary, fiction).

Content Restrictions

  • Projects containing sexual content, nudity, or LGBTQ+ themes are not permitted.
  • Projects addressing sensitive political content are not accepted.
  • Projects unsuitable for children and youth audiences will not be accepted.

Key Dates

  • Call Opens: 13 May 2025
  • Submission Deadline: 14 June 2025
  • Selected Projects Announced: July 2025
  • Pitching Session: During SIFF 2025, any day between 6 – 10 October 2025

Pitching Format

  • A total of three (3) projects will be selected.
  • Each selected filmmaker/producer will pitch in a 2–3 hour session before a panel of industry experts.
  • The session is non-competitive and aimed at connecting filmmakers with funders.

Support Provided by SIFF

For each selected project, SIFF will cover:

  • Transportation 
  • Accommodation 
  • Food & Beverage
  • Free access to the festival screenings and programs

Submission Requirements

  • Projects may be at any of the following stages:
    • Concept
    • Early Development
    • Pre-production
    • Early post-production (such as editing, color correction, or sound design), provided that the project requires support to complete or launch.
  • Required materials:
    • Logline (max 200 characters)
    • Synopsis (max 250 words)
    • Project vision and objectives (max 300 words)
    • Director’s or Producer’s bio (max 150 words)
    • Description of the current development stage
    • Moodboard or visual reference
    • Script sample or previous work (optional)

All files must be submitted in PDF or JPG format (links for video samples allowed). Incomplete submissions may be disqualified.

 Intellectual Property

  • The applicant must own or have legal rights to the submitted project.
  • By submitting, the applicant confirms the originality of the work and that it does not infringe on any third-party rights.

Language

  • Submissions must be in Arabic or English.
  • If the original material is in another language, a translation or English synopsis must be provided.

Selection Process

  • All submissions will be reviewed by the festival team.
  • Selection is at the full discretion of SIFF.
  • SIFF reserves the right to select fewer than three projects if submissions do not meet the required standards.

Consent & Media Use

  • Selected participants agree to present their project publicly at SIFF.
  • Participants consent to be filmed, photographed, and recorded, and grant SIFF the right to use these materials for festival promotion.

Right to Modify Format

  • SIFF reserves the right to adjust the event’s format, schedule, or panel composition based on organizational needs.

Submit Your Film Project

If you are ready to submit your project, please click here to complete the submission form.

For any inquiries, please contact:
The Festival Team
Email: info@siff.ae
Website: www.siff.ae