Sharjah: FANN Media Discovery Platform has announced the 12th Edition of the Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth (SIFF) will be held from 6th to 11th October at VOX Cinemas in City Centre Al Zahia. The event is organized under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and supported by Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs.
According to Emirates News Agency, the festival will serve as a platform to unite filmmakers and creative minds from around the globe, offering them the opportunity to showcase their films to a diverse audience. This year's edition features a selection of 76 films curated from 1,740 submissions across 26 countries, including first-time participants So Tom© and Prncipe, Ecuador, and Belize. The festival will also launch the Global Children and Youth Film Congress, emphasizing cinema's influence on Arab youth and discussing challenges and opportunities within Arab cinema.
H.H. Sheikha Jawaher bint Abdullah Al Qasimi, General-Director of FANN and SIFF, expressed the festival's growth as a creative space that empowers filmmakers and emphasizes their role in enhancing the local cultural and artistic landscape. She underlined FANN's commitment to fostering a new generation of filmmakers capable of addressing social issues through cinema.
The festival will host the Middle East premieres of three films on its Green Carpet: Miss Moxy by Dutch filmmakers Wip Vernooij and Vincent Bal, a Korean film by Suryeon Jung, and Sarah Talab's Saudi film Hajeer. The jury, comprising 16 distinguished directors and industry experts, includes figures like Syrian actress Yara Sabri and South Korean director Jae Hoon Ahn.
In parallel, the SIFF Pop-Up event at the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park will offer workshops and activities designed to enhance the skills of young talents and support their cinema production potential.