Sharjah animation forum to feature 72 global speakers

The Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) is gearing up for the third edition of the Sharjah Animation Conference (SAC 2025), an annual international platform where industry giants, creative talents, and aspiring innovators deliberate to shape the future of animation.

Taking place at Expo Centre Sharjah from May 1-4, the four-day conference, organised in collaboration with Italy’s Bergamo Animation Days (BAD), will be packed with the latest trends, cutting-edge technologies, and game-changing opportunities, offering endless possibilities for the future of animated storytelling.

SAC 2025 will feature a stellar line-up of 72 international speakers, delivering 26 specialised workshops, 21 panel discussions, exclusive film screenings, and exhibitions.

Attendees will also have the chance to connect with renowned directors, illustrators from leading global studios, and award-winning artists, making SAC 2025 a unique platform for collaboration, innovation, and creative exchange in the world of animation, reinforcing Sharjah’s status as a hub for visual arts and a global destination for animation talent.

Khoula Al Mujaini, Executive Director of SAC, emphasised that the third edition will serve as a global platform, bringing together leading figures in the animation industry to exchange expertise and explore the latest innovations in this rapidly evolving field.

She highlighted that hosting the event alongside the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival creates a valuable opportunity for publishers and authors to collaborate with animation creators, paving the way for literary works to be transformed into engaging visual content that reaches wider audiences.

She added, “Animation is a universal language that transcends borders, cultures, and generations. This industry has produced iconic works that remain deeply embedded in the memory of audiences worldwide, demonstrating the enduring power of animation in crafting stories that resonate across diverse backgrounds. Through SAC, we aim to celebrate this remarkable art form, inspire new generations of creatives, and provide a space where industry leaders can connect, collaborate, and push the boundaries of animated storytelling.

Recently, the SBA reaffirmed the emirate’s standing as a cultural powerhouse with its participation in the 51st edition of the London Book Fair (LBF), at Olympia London.

The fair, a key fixture in the global publishing calendar, brought together leading publishers, authors, and industry professionals from across the world, to exchange expertise, showcase their latest offerings, and explore new opportunities for collaboration. Sharjah’s presence at the international event underscored its commitment to fostering international cultural exchange.

SBA showcased the vibrancy of the UAE’s publishing sector and the literary contributions of Emirati and Arab writers.

It also strengthened ties between the region’s creative industries and the global publishing community, highlighting SBA’s initiatives to support the sector and forging new collaborations with international publishers.

Commenting on the participation in the fair, Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of the SBA, said, “Sharjah’s presence at the LBF is a key part of its annual agenda, as the event stands as one of the world’s most prominent cultural gatherings, reflecting the global literary and publishing landscape. Each year, the emirate’s participation highlights its achievements in the cultural sector, driven by the success of the Sharjah International Book Fair, which holds the world’s largest book fair title for four years in a row in terms of buying and selling of copyrights, reaffirming Sharjah’s pivotal role in supporting the global publishing movement and fostering cultural exchange between East and West.”

Sharjah’s pavilion welcomed visitors and enthusiasts of Arabic literature, offering a curated selection of translated works in English.

It also facilitated meetings between Emirati and international publishers to explore opportunities for collaboration.

As part of SBA’s pavilion, the Sharjah Literary Agency provided professional consultations on book marketing strategies and copyright protection.

WAM