In collaboration with SAE University College Dubai and content creator and filmmaker Mohamad Attal, Samsung Gulf successfully hosted the Galaxy S25 Short Film Contest, an innovative competition showcasing the power of mobile filmmaking. The contest invited talented students from SAE to capture short films using only the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
The competition aimed to highlight the creative possibilities of the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s advanced video and editing capabilities. Twenty students specialising in photography and filmmaking participated in the challenge, crafting compelling short films that explored themes of home, culture, and giving. Each of them utilised the smartphone exclusively to film and edit their projects, showcasing the device’s professional-grade video capabilities.
Fadi Abu Shamat, VP and Head of the Mobile eXperience Division at Samsung Gulf Electronics, said, “At Samsung, we are dedicated to empowering the next generation of content creators by providing them with cutting-edge technology and opportunities to express their creativity. The Galaxy S25 Short Film Contest showcased the incredible potential of mobile filmmaking, bringing our vision to life. The winning films beautifully captured various themes, showcasing the talent and innovation of these young filmmakers.”
Razan Takash, Head of Film at SAE University College Dubai, said: “This contest provided our students with a unique opportunity to explore the art of storytelling through mobile filmmaking. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra proved to be a powerful tool in bringing their visions to life, demonstrating that creativity knows no limits when paired with the right technology.”
Over the following weeks, students developed their films and their submissions were evaluated by a panel of esteemed judges. The top five short films were shortlisted for a special screening at Roxy Cinemas, where both the judges and the public participated in the final voting.
The competition awarded four winners across different categories, with the first-place winner receiving a cash prize to support future filmmaking endeavours under Samsung’s mentorship. Sara Khatib claimed first place with her short film Only Human, a Gen-Z-inspired narrative that explored the themes of sins versus virtues through the lens of a makeshift video game.
Samantha Ablo won the second-place prize and the award for Best Film Poster for Behind Iftar, a heartfelt tribute to service workers who work tirelessly during Ramadan to ensure families receive their meals on time. Joseph Snowin Fernando secured third place with Thirty Days for a Flower, a poetic film that uses the metaphor of a blooming flower to illustrate the spiritual journey of Ramadan.
As part of the initiative, filmmaker Mohamad Attal conducted a workshop offering students a live demonstration of capturing and producing cinematic content using the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
