White Oryx International Short Film Festival (WOIS Film Fest), an initiative by the Manipal Institute of Liberal Arts (MILA), Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) – Dubai Campus, is proud to announce an open call for submissions to the fourth edition of the WOIS Film Fest, set to take place from November 26th to 28th, 2025 at Dubai Knowledge Park and MAHE Dubai campus in Dubai International Academic City.
Regarded as the biggest short film event in Dubai, WOIS is a student-led platform that celebrates short-form storytelling and aims to spotlight emerging talent, especially student and amateur filmmakers, from the UAE, GCC, and beyond. Over three days of the fest, WOIS aims to showcase their passion for narratives and filmmaking, and to expose them to the myriad ways of storytelling from across the world through the fest’s curated screenings. Finally, the fest provides a space for networking and connecting the filmmaking communities. On this front, we are partnered with Cininfo, an exclusive community of artists and creators based out of India.
The open call invites short films, documentaries, animations, and music videos with a maximum runtime of 20 minutes. All entries must be completed after January 2024, be suitable for a general audience, and include English subtitles if the primary language is not English. Entry is free of charge and open to school and university students, as well as independent filmmakers from around the GCC.
This year’s competition will feature four award categories: Best Short Film – UAE, Best Short Film – UAE University, Best Short Film – UAE School, and Best Short Film – GCC Shorts (covering Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia). Winning entries receive the prestigious Golden Oryx Award. In previous editions, winners have received filmmaking kits sponsored by Nikon MEA.
Prof. Elsa Thomas, Chairperson, Manipal Institute of Liberal Arts and Festival Chairperson, commented, “At the Manipal Institute of Liberal Arts, we believe that storytelling has the power to shape perspectives, spark dialogue, and drive change. The White Oryx International Short Film Festival is not just a showcase of student talent, it is a movement that empowers young filmmakers to nurture original thought, explore bold ideas and fearless creativity, challenge norms, and share narratives that matter. Through this platform, we are proud to cultivate a new generation of creators who are not only technically skilled but also socially conscious and culturally rooted, all vital to the creative economy we aim to inspire through MILA.”
The festival experience goes beyond screenings, offering workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities with professionals from the film and media industry. WOIS has previously attracted over 5,000 submissions globally and continues to grow as a prominent creative platform for student and indie filmmakers.
Submissions are open until July 31, 2025, via FilmFreeway: https://filmfreeway.com/woisfilmfest
