Theater and Cinema

Theater: the live performance of dramatic works, combining acting, set design, and audience engagement to tell stories and convey emotions.

Cinema: The art of creating motion pictures, combining visual storytelling, cinematography, and audio elements to entertain, inform, and evoke emotions.

Submissions accepted in Arabic, English, or Both.

Judging Criteria - Theater

Creativity: This criterion evaluates the innovative and imaginative elements in a theatrical production. Judges may consider the following aspects:

Concept: The originality and inventiveness of the central idea or concept behind the production.
Staging and Direction: The creative use of space, movement, and direction to tell the story and engage the audience.
Visual Elements: The use of set design, lighting, costumes, props, and special effects to enhance the production's overall creativity.

Originality: Originality assesses how unique and distinctive the theatrical work is compared to other productions. Judges consider whether the story, characters, themes, and artistic choices are novel and avoid clichés or overused theatrical conventions.

Quality of Artistic Composition: This criterion focuses on the technical and artistic aspects of the theater production:

Acting: The quality of the performances, including the ability of the actors to portray their characters convincingly, emotionally connect with the audience, and convey the nuances of the script.
Direction and Blocking: The effectiveness of the director's choices in guiding the actors and staging the production. Judges may evaluate how well the blocking and movement contribute to the overall composition.
Set Design and Technical Aspects: The set design's quality, props, lighting, sound, and other technical elements that contribute to the artistic composition of the production.
Costumes and Makeup: The effectiveness of costumes and makeup in conveying character and enhancing the visual appeal of the production.
Sound and Music: The use of sound and music to create mood, atmosphere, and emotional resonance within the production.

Overall Impression of Art: This criterion assesses the emotional impact and impression of the theatrical work on the audience. Judges consider:

How well the production engages the audience and maintains their interest.
Whether the production leaves a lasting impact and elicits an emotional response.
The effectiveness of the production in conveying its intended themes or messages.

Narrative and Storytelling: The effectiveness of the storytelling within the production, including the clarity of the narrative, character development, and plot progression.

Audience Connection: How well the production connects with the audience, holds their attention, and engages their emotions.

Execution of Vision: The ability of the production to realize the director's or playwright's intended vision and goals, including the successful conveyance of themes or messages.

Technical Skill: The proficiency of the technical team and performers in various aspects of theater, such as set construction, lighting design, sound engineering, and stage management.

Choreography (if applicable): The quality and creativity of choreography and dance sequences if they are a part of the production.

Judging Criteria - Cinema

Creativity: This criterion assesses how innovative and imaginative the film is in terms of storytelling, visual style, and overall presentation. Judges may consider whether the film takes risks or approaches its subject matter in a unique and fresh way.

Originality: Originality evaluates the degree to which the film presents fresh and unique ideas or concepts. Judges might assess whether the story, characters, and themes are distinct and not derivative of other works.

Quality of Artistic Composition: This criterion focuses on the technical and artistic aspects of filmmaking. It includes the following subcategories:

Cinematography: The quality of the film's visual elements, including camera work, framing, lighting, and shot composition. Judges may consider how well the visuals enhance the storytelling.
Editing: The effectiveness of the editing in terms of pacing, transitions, and the film's overall flow. Judges assess how well the editing contributes to the narrative and emotional impact.

Sound Design: Evaluation of the sound elements, including dialogue, music, sound effects, and how they contribute to the film's overall atmosphere and emotional resonance.
Production Design: The quality of sets, costumes, props, and other visual elements that help create the film's world and contribute to the story's authenticity and atmosphere.
Acting: The performance of the cast, including their ability to convey emotions, deliver dialogues, and make their characters believable and relatable.
Screenplay: The quality of the script, including the strength of the story, character development, dialogue, and narrative structure.

Overall Impression of the Art: This criterion considers the overall emotional impact and impression of the film. Judges evaluate how well the film engages the audience, whether it leaves a lasting impact, and how effectively it communicates its themes or messages.

Audience Engagement: Assess how well the film connects with the audience, keeping their attention, and generating emotional responses.

Technical Skill: Evaluating the technical proficiency of the filmmakers in areas like camera work, editing, special effects, and other aspects of production.

Storytelling: How well the film tells its story, including narrative structure, character development, and plot progression.

Emotional Resonance: The ability of the film to evoke emotions and connect with the audience on a deep, personal level.