World of Women Film Fair Middle East

Overview

What is WOW Middle East? WORLD OF WOMEN’S CINEMA: Presented by Straight Street Media, UAE The World of Women’s Cinema - WOW Film Fair Middle East is the first women’s short film fair that promotes and awards the talents of women directors, producers, writers, editors and cinematographers in the film industry internationally. It is an event that offers emerging and established filmmakers the opportunity to screen short works giving a thematic perspective of ... “seeing the world through the eyes of women”. Created by Women in Film and Television NSW, this is the first of its kind event in the Arab world. Committed to improving the status of women, both on and off the screen, the event aims to support and advance women working in film, TV and other related screen industries. WOW is a unique showcase of films by women or about women, allowing for a different storytelling and giving another perspective of the world through women's eyes. Aiming to be a festival of discovery, celebration, debate, networking and an inspiration for new work – the event is a non profit project presented by Straight Street Media, a Dubai based company committed to improving the status of women, both on and off the screen, by supporting and advancing women working in the film, television and related screen industries.

Last updated Sep 13, 2026

Legitimacy Analysis

Trust Signals

Festival Details

FilmFreeway communityGold festival

• Filmmaker

  I found out I was selected to this festival through an Instagram post. The post included a poster of my film as the special screening, with multiple unrelated accounts tagged. When I messaged the festival on Instagram requesting they remove tags I was unfamiliar with and seemed irrelevant to the post of my film, I was met with aggression, disrespect, and insults. The person who runs the Instagram account, from the Media & PR team refused to communicate or discuss the subject they disagreed on with respect and continued to trigger and insult me throughout multiple messages, labeling my requests as demands, and calling my words "vomit", going as far as to say "no wonder it's so hard to get funding for women in film" when they are an organization that supposedly supports women. It was in these messages that I decided to pull my film from the festival. When I reached out to the founder to share the interaction, she did not take accountability and sided with her staff member, even when seeing the proof of messaging and language I received. I mentioned that I was willing to revert my decision if she was willing to damage control, but she disagreed with my reaction and told me to reconsider, without trying to amend the situation. My conversation with the founder, although respectful, did not make me feel valued or safe as a filmmaker participating in her festival, since there was no effort to protect me from the Media & PR person who showed animosity towards me, which confirmed my decision to pull the film. I have reported the situation and shared all the communication between the festival account and the founder with FilmFreeway, and want to share my experience publicly to protect other filmmakers from being disrespected and mistreated by this festival. This festival should not be supported and should be held accountable for how they communicate with filmmakers.

• Filmmaker

  So honored that our film Hold the Ball was selected! Thank you to the incredible team at WOW! Excellent communication! Great quality! Great value! Looking forward to next year’s film festival. Shoutout to festival leader Hermoine for all your help!

• Filmmaker

  Yocheved Pianko Feinerman

• Filmmaker

  I am Duishenklova Guzel, a film director from Kyrgyzstan. Many thanks to the organizers of this wonderful festival! My film "Bride stone" won a prize! I am very very happy! Keep spreading joy!

• Filmmaker

  My experience with the World of Women Film Fair Middle East was truly inspiring and meaningful. I am sincerely honored that our short film, "Broken Dawn," was selected to be part of a festival that celebrates diverse voices and highlights stories that contribute to important social and cultural conversations. What makes this festival especially valuable is its commitment to creating a platform where filmmakers can share unique perspectives and connect with audiences across different cultures and backgrounds. The festival's dedication to inclusion, artistic expression, and meaningful storytelling is both admirable and impactful. Throughout the process, the festival team demonstrated professionalism, kindness, and genuine support for filmmakers. Their efforts to promote independent cinema and encourage international cultural exchange were evident and greatly appreciated. Thank you to the entire World of Women Film Fair Middle East team for your hard work and commitment to empowering filmmakers and storytellers. It was a privilege to be part of the festival, and I highly recommend it to filmmakers around the world. I look forward to following its continued growth and success in the future.

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