Sharjah Film Festival Celebrates Growth, Introduces Palestine as Guest of Honor Country: ‘The Interest in Young Audiences in the Arab World Is Growing’

Now in its 11th edition, the Sharjah Intl. Film Festival for Children and Youth continues to expand exponentially. Running from Oct. 6 to 12 in the City Center Al Zahia in Sharjah, the festival will feature 98 stories in 18 languages, including UAE premieres in “Amakor” by Kuwaiti director Ahmed Alkhudari, “The Trainers” by Andrea Joplin, “The Teacher” by Oscar-nominated director Farah Nabulsi and Wojciech Wawszczyk’s animated film “Diplodocus.”

This year’s selection was chosen from an all-time high of 1,834 submissions across 73 countries. It marks the first time a film from Zimbabwe is in the program, as well as the festival’s inaugural Guest of Honor in Palestine. The spotlight, according to the festival team, “offers attendees a unique chance to explore the diverse and storied history of Palestinian filmmaking, celebrated for its aesthetic richness and its contributions to Arab cinema.”

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“When we compare the submissions from the first year to now, the growth has been tremendous, with more countries and filmmakers participating each year,” the director of the festival and its mother organization, FANN, Sheikha Jawaher Abdullah Al Qasimi told Variety ahead of the festival. “Celebrating the 10th anniversary of SIFF last year was a proud milestone, especially as the first festival dedicated to children and youth in the country and region. It gave us an opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come and how the festival has grown, both in scale and impact. Every year, we look for ways to elevate the experience.”

When asked about the festival’s legacy and if she believes SIFF has actively inspired a new generation to pursue not only filmmaking but also making films for children and young audiences, Al Qasimi was prompt in her affirmative, highlighting how before the festival started in 2013, “there was no dedicated platform in the country or region for these types of film.”

“Initially, the number of Arab films in the lineup was quite small, if any, but over the years we’ve seen a significant increase in submissions from Gulf and Arab filmmakers focused on young audiences.”

“By providing a space for these stories to be showcased and celebrated, SIFF has not only encouraged local filmmakers to explore this genre but also helped raise awareness about the importance of producing meaningful, engaging content for younger viewers,” Al Qasimi continued. “This has had a noticeable impact on the Arab film festival circuit, creating a stronger focus on youth-oriented storytelling.”

While in the first years of the festival it was a relative challenge to find youth-focused films to program, this is no longer the case, says the SIFF director: “The interest in young audiences in the Arab world is growing. While there’s still room for development, we’re already seeing a rise in the number of filmmakers who are focusing on children and youth, and at SIFF, we’re committed to expanding our expertise and supporting these films as much as possible. Our goal is to continue fostering this growth and help create a thriving space for youth-focused storytelling in the region.”

This year’s festival’s jury features 18 renowned directors and industry experts, including Shajoun Al-Hajri, Muhammad Al-Aubthani, Sebastian Reichhold, Hanna Atallah, Razan Taqsh, Soudad Kaadan, Jitendra Misher, Susan Johnston and Ahmed Zein. These jurors will evaluate films across several categories: “Student Films,” “International Short Films,” “Arabic Short Films,” “Animated Short Films,” “Feature Animated Films,” “Feature Films,” “Films Made by Children and Young People” and “Documentary Films.”

In addition, the festival will also welcome notable guests from the UAE, the region, and beyond, including Emirati director Omar Al-Mulla, Palestinian director Omar Al-Rimal, Egyptian actress Yousra, Emirati actor Jaber Naghmoush, and Kuwaiti actress Souad Al-Abdullah.

As for the future, Al Qasimi would like to expand the festival’s audience, as well as its international reach. “Ultimately, we want to enhance SIFF’s reputation as a vibrant hub for innovative storytelling and cross-cultural exchange in youth and children’s cinema.”