Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth to begin on Oct.13

The UAE’s and Arab region’s first film festival that celebrates children’s and youth cinema, the Sharjah International Film Festival for Children & Youth (SIFF), has announced dates of its seventh edition. Slated for an October 13 – 18 showcase, festival organiser FUNN has confirmed that this edition will offer young cinema enthusiasts a unique opportunity to interact with top Arab and international actors and filmmakers, and enjoy dozens of extraordinary films from around the world created for, by and about children and young people.

FUNN is a Sharjah-based organisation dedicated to promote and support the media arts for young children and the youth of Sharjah and UAE.

SIFF 2019 is one of the most anticipated cultural events being organised by Sharjah this year in celebration of its recognition by UNESCO as World Book Capital 2019. The film festival’s main focus this year will be on book-inspired cinema, to show young audiences the role of literature in shaping and nurturing the arts, especially films. 

Children queue up in front of a theatre to watch a movie.

Sheikha Jawaher Bint Abdullah Al Qasimi, Director of FUNN and SIFF, said: “We are excited to raise the curtain on the seventh edition of SIFF, which has grown to become one of the most anticipated events in the region for audiences and filmmakers alike. We launched a platform six years ago with a goal to educate children and youth of UAE about film and cinema, inspire their imagination and promote intellectual development through their consumption of quality content. Today, the festival has transformed into this exceptional artistic space capable of changing the local and Arab film scene, through its offerings.

Al Qasimi added: “The event follows the directives of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, which stresses on the meaningful inclusion and representation of children and youth in society, and his belief that enlightened individuals play a key role in the development of their societies. To this end, we call on the UAE’s young community to come enjoy SIFF and experience the power of cinema to unleash their creativity. Come explore the infinite creative possibilities offered by the filmmaking industry.”