Neo Apelian

Neo Apelian is an Armenian Lebanese Filmmaker who started his career in Dubai. After graduating from the MBRSC Storytelling and Film program at the American University in Dubai, he has since worked on sets of various local and international commercials, short films, and feature films such as "Star Trek: Beyond" and "The Ambush". He has gained his experience in production department, before slowly transitioning into directing small ads. Alongside, He has actively independently helped produce independent short films. Over the last 6 years, he's helped make various short films with many filmmakers based in Dubai. His experience eventually earned him a win, as an independent short film producer, for the short film "Shah Mat" in the 48 hour film project Dubai 2016 at the Dubai International Film Festival 2017. That later went on to compete for the international 48 hour competition at Filmapalooza Film Festival in Seattle, WA, USA in 2017. In 2019, Apelian produced the short film 'M1das' with Jordanian film director Razan Takash. A philosophical journey of motherhood portrayed through a woman communicating with a child robot. The film screened in over 11 festivals worldwide gaining various nominations in the Sci-fi category in 2020. Neo has since also been moving into writing short films, and finally following his passion for directing. Marking his first directorial debut with the quirky Sci-fi short film 'IDI' in January 2021. which won him the Gold Award for First Time Director, at the Hollywood Gold Festival 2021 in January.