NEO APELIAN
Partner - Film Director
Neo Apelian is an Armenian Lebanese Filmmaker based in Dubai with over 10+ years of experience, in the field of film and video production.
A graduate of the American University in Dubai’s Film Production & Storytelling program, He has since worked on the sets of various local and international commercials, short films, and feature films.
Most notably, “Star Trek: Beyond” in 2016 and “The Ambush” 2021.
Gaining his experience in the production department, before slowly transitioning into writing and directing his own films.
In 2017 he earned a win, as an independent short film producer, for the short film “Shah Mat” in the 48 hour film project Dubai at the Dubai International Film Festival 2017. Later going on to compete for the international 48 hour competition at Filmapalooza Film Festival in Seattle, WA, USA.
2019, Apelian produced short film ‘M1das’ with Dir. Razan Takash
The film screened in over 25 festivals worldwide and won over 10 awards including Best Sci-fi short at Florence Film Awards and Berlin Movie Awards.
Neo slowly pursued his passion for directing. He wrote and directed his debut short with the quirky Sci-fi film ‘IDI’ in January 2021.
IDI later went on to win 11 awards at various worldwide festivals, and screening in over 16 festivals.
IDI , first earned Neo the Gold Award for First Time Director, at the Hollywood Gold Festival.
Between 2023 - 2025, Neo completed his newest short film, "Karayr"
an Arabic post-apocalyptic tale that blends Komitasian music and Armenian influence, to talk about the current turmoil in the middle east and the fictional result of it all.
After a successful crowdfunding campaign in Dubai, The movie was prepped, filmed in Jordan, and later edited in Egypt.
On December 14th 2025, KARAYR came on top at the first HollyShorts Dubai, winning the “Best of the Fest” Award.
It will now be part of the official selection, and will screen in competition at the OSCAR® qualifying film festival, HollyShorts 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
It has also earned an Honorable mention at Hollywood Shortsfest, and has since been an officially selection at Morbido Film Fest 2025, in Mexico city.
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