Sharjah: Sharjah Media City (Shams) has announced the launch of the 'Shams Award for Arabic Content', aiming to celebrate excellence and creativity in Arab media while contributing to the development of a generation of creative individuals capable of competing regionally and globally. Rashid Abdullah Al Obaid, Director-General of Shams, emphasized that the award aligns with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to empower Arab creators and content producers in fostering an environment for creativity and innovation.
According to Emirates News Agency, Shams intends to evolve the award annually to keep pace with significant transformations in the content industry. The award aims to recognize Arab creativity through diverse categories, providing creators with opportunities to reach broader audiences. The 2025 award categories include Best Short Film, Best AI Video, Best Content Creator, Best Arabic Podcast, Best Film Script, Best Series Script, Best Actress of 2025, and Best Actor of 2025. These categories reflect fields such as digital creativity, audio production, scriptwriting, and acting.
Nominations for the awards can be submitted via a dedicated online platform, with the submission deadline set for October 31, 2025. The evaluation process involves precise criteria, including quality of concept, innovation, cultural and social impact, artistic and technical excellence, and adherence to the positive values of Arabic content. Specialized judging committees, composed of experts and creatives in media and artistic production, will review all entries to ensure the selection of the worthiest winners according to the highest local and international standards.
The award for Best Short Film will honor the top short film that captivates and moves audiences, focusing on storytelling, directing, and visuals. The Best AI Video award will celebrate videos created using AI technology, assessing creativity and technological integration. The Best Content Creator award will recognize originality and audience engagement, while the Best Arabic Podcast award will focus on planning, sound quality, and listener engagement.
For scriptwriting, the Best Film Script award will be given to an unproduced Arab film script judged on plot and character development. Similarly, the Best Series Script award will honor the best script for an Arab TV series. Acting awards include Best Actress of 2025 and Best Actor of 2025, recognizing outstanding performances in films or TV shows released in 2024 or 2025.