2026 GAAD Accessibility Film Festival
2026 Event Details:
UDST GAAD Accessibility Film Festival
Film Submission Deadline: March 26, 2026
Event Date: April 9, 2026
Time: 6:00PM - 8:00PM (check-in: 5:15PM - 6:00PM)
Location: UDST
Filmmakers - Eligibility to Submit:
Anyone with a QID (all ages)
Eligibility to Attend:
UDST Students, Faculty, Staff, Alumni (Free)
Finalist Filmmakers (Free)
Qatar Community with or without QID (Purchased Tickets 25QAR/ticket - ticket proceeds going towards scholarship(s) for UDST students with disabilities.)
Be Part of the Excitement! Register Now!
Join us for an exciting evening of short films (1-4 minutes) exploring themes including accessibility, disability, inclusion, universal design, and the lived experiences of individuals with physical, psychological, or learning-related conditions, raising awareness about accessibility issues and advocating for inclusion and improvement.
In addition to the film screening, there will be networking opportunities, learning opportunities, and light refreshments to enjoy. Plus, you can participate in live voting to choose the Audience Choice Award winner!
Winners will be announced at the event!
Let's come together to celebrate creativity, awareness, and inclusion!
Click here to see last year's highlight reel.
Event Schedule (April 9, 2026) - Check-in from 5:15PM
| 6:00 - 6:10 PM | Welcome & Opening Remarks |
| 6:10 – 7:00 PM | Film Screenings |
| 7:00 - 7:05PM | Live Voting |
| 7:05 - 7:15PM | Judges Remarks & Pre-Voted Awards & Accessibility Ally Awards |
| 7:15 - 7:20 | Audience Choice Award and Closing |
| 7:20 - 8:00PM | Post-Event Networking, Photos, and Light Refreshments |
2026 GAAD Accessibility Film Festival Submissions & Award Information
Deadline to Submit: March 26, 2026, 11:59PM
Showcase your creativity, raise awareness, and advocate for inclusion! We invite you to submit a short film (1-4 minutes) that explores themes of accessibility, challenge, resilience, and innovation as it relates to physical, psychological, or learning-related conditions. "Short" submissions can be fiction or non-fiction, and must be original works created by the submitter(s).
- First-time filmmakers are welcome!
- Anyone with a QID (any age) can submit a film for consideration.
- If you've made an Instagram reel, you can make a "short."
- If you have a story to tell related to accessibility, we want to hear it!
Short Film Examples:
- #Disability is when the world isn't designed for everyone..!
- What It Feels Like To Be A Woman Diagnosed With ADHD Later In Life
- 2025 GAAD Film Festival Submission: Temperance
Who can submit?
- Anyone with a QID
- Note: Individual and group submissions will be accepted
Submission Criteria:
- Film Length: 1-4 minutes
- Format: MP4
- Language: Any
- Required: English subtitles required (closed captioning encouraged) for all films, including films with English audio
- Recommended: Horizontal orientation
Award Types:
- Audience Choice Award: Voted by the live audience
- Inclusive Storytelling Award: Recognizing authentic storytelling of diverse perspectives
- Breaking Barriers Award: For films challenging societal norms and inspiring change
- Accessibility in Action Award: Honoring films that make content accessible to all audiences
- Student Voice Award: Recognizes a film that effectively raises the UDST student voice (limited to UDST individual student or UDST student group submissions. If submitting as a group, all group members must be UDST students.)
Winners Receive:
- A digital film badge
- An engraved trophy
- Cash prize
Special Note:
- If you plan to film on the UDST campus, please let us know ( [email protected] ) so that we can assist with obtaining permissions.
2026 Submission Deadline: March 26, 2026 (11:59PM)
2025 GAAD Film Festival Submission Sample - Temperance