Philip Rasheed unveiled as speaker at the opening of HollyShorts Dubai 2025
Exclusive: Iraqi-Kurdish director Philip Rashid has been announced as a speaker at the upcoming HollyShorts Dubai as its inaugural edition debuts.
The event, part of the popular, long-running, Oscar-qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival in Los Angeles, will run from December 12-14.
Rasheed, who was born in Bulgaria and grew up in the Netherlands, is a long-time resident of Dubai. He made his short film debut in 2012 with Zola.
Other works include happy birthdayWhich was filmed entirely on a Samsung phone, it won the Samsung Short Film Competition award at the Dubai International Film Festival in 2014, and the work also won an award in 2018. shefollows seven women living in the United Arab Emirates as they try to achieve their life goals.
He continues to produce innovative content under the Soultrotter Productions banner, and is also an active mentor and cultural consultant dedicated to shaping the next generation of filmmakers in the UAE.
“I am truly honored and excited to participate in the inaugural edition of HollyShorts Dubai,” said Rasheed. “Dubai is a city that inspires my work and provides a vibrant platform for global storytellers. I look forward to sharing my experiences and perspectives with the next generation of filmmakers.”
Rasheed’s participation was welcomed by former MGM veteran Jeff Pryor, who was announced as a strategic advisor for the inaugural edition in August.
“Philip’s career – from his beginnings in the Netherlands to his powerful voice for marginalized communities – perfectly embodies the spirit of global storytelling that HollyShorts stands for,” Pryor said. “His unique perspective and success in this region will be a great source of inspiration for those in attendance.”
Other highlights of the speakers’ program will include keynote speeches by director Faisal Hashmi (Amber, And it is(Director and photographer Shadi Abu Sharar)Stand up! O Arabs!) as well as a masterclass with HollyShorts Grand Prize Winner Ammar Jalal and SAE University College Dubai Head of Film Razan Takash. There will also be a presentation from Illusion Studios on the future of AI in filmmaking.