Sharjah:The Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth (SIFF) celebrated Italy as the Guest of Honour in its 13th edition, showcasing a range of cultural and artistic activities that highlighted Italy's cinematic heritage, arts, and traditions.
According to Wam, the festival, organized by FANN - Media Discovery Platform, aimed to bridge cultures and introduce children and young people to new creative experiences and perspectives. The event was held at VOX Cinemas in City Centre Al Zahia and the House of Wisdom, featuring Italian Day with film screenings, live performances, interactive workshops, and cultural activities.
Among the highlights was the Middle East premiere of the Italian film "Forever With You," directed by Fabrizio Cattani, along with screenings of "Atlas of the Universe" and the animated film "Tales From the Magic Garden." The festival also showcased films by children and young filmmakers, offering audiences insights into their ideas and experiences through cinema.
Cultural activities at the House of Wisdom included performances and workshops inspired by Italian culture, such as the La Dolce Vita Show and the "Colombina Masks with an Italian Touch" workshop. These activities introduced participants to traditional Italian theatrical masks and their role in character portrayal.
Italian cuisine was celebrated through workshops on making semolina pasta and tiramisu, where participants learned about Italian culinary traditions. Additionally, a ceramic coaster painting workshop encouraged creativity among visitors.
For aspiring storytellers, the festival offered a "Film Strip" workshop, teaching children and young people how sequences of images tell visual stories. Another workshop, "From Idea to Screen How to Start Creating Your Content," guided participants in developing ideas into visual content, enhancing their storytelling skills.