The Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth or SIFF is returning as a focused in-person event this year, after taking its programming online last year.
An initiative of Funn, the foundation in Sharjah that promotes media arts and creative talent among UAE youth, the festival is the first in the region that is dedicated to a younger audience. It is now in its ninth year and will take place between October 10 and 15.
Besides its selection of films, which caters to age groups from under 7 to those in their university years, the festival also aims to encourage children and youth to hone skills related to filmmaking, through workshops and seminars. The theme for this year’s festival is Think Film.
While SIFF took place exclusively online last year owing to Covid-related restrictions, the event will now be held across various locations across Sharjah. Film screenings will be held at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre and Vox Cinemas in City Centre Al Zahia. There will also be screenings at City Centre Mirdif’s Vox Cinemas for those living in Dubai. Screening times will be segmented into morning and evening sessions to accommodate students and families.
“There is no doubt about the impact of cinema on children’s and youth’s imagination,” Sheikha Jawaher bint Abdullah Al Qasimi, the festival’s director, said during a press conference on Monday at Vox Cinemas in City Centre Al Zahia.
“We guarantee six days of pure fun and contemplation in this year’s edition,” she said. “We hope to see more youth film production taking inspiration from the film personalities and experts gracing these festivals.
“We have morning screenings from 9am to 1pm that are specifically for schools and universities, though anyone can walk in and watch the films if they are interested. Then we have an evening shift, which starts around 4pm. Because we are a family-orientated festival, we tried to make sure that there was a break in between.”
The selection includes short films from the GCC as well as international titles. It also includes 16 feature films, 16 student films, 28 animated works, seven documentaries and 12 child and youth-made titles.
In addition, three films will mark their Middle East premiere. These include The Electrical Life of Louis Wain, which stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy; the David Cho-directed drama Croissant; and The Secret Garden, which stars Colin Firth, Julie Walters and Dixie Egerickx.
Egerickx will also be among special guest speakers at the festival, along with Syrian singer Rasha Rizk, who is also known for her cartoon dubbing company Venus Centre; Emirati filmmaker Fadel Al Mheiri; and Syrian For Sama filmmaker Waad Alkateab.
Sheikha Jawaher said the films were picked after a stringent selection scrutinising the quality and content of the materials. Out of 1,717 films from 89 countries, only 95 were selected. The films will be in competition in their respective categories.
A jury panel of 19 will decide the winners. The panel includes Alkateab, Emirati Jawhara filmmaker Hani Al Shaibani, Kuwaiti scriptwriter Heba Hamada, and Emirati filmmaker Nawaf Al Janahi.
For the films that were submitted in the child and youth-made category but were not selected, a special workshop is being held with the young filmmakers to highlight how their works can get better.
“They will be encouraged to submit again next year,” Sheikha Jawaher said.
The festival, she said, has grown considerably since it was established in 2013. While it comprised only one screening hall at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre, it slowly grew to incorporate a competition, workshops, as well as international guest speakers.
“Almost 200,000 have attended the last eight years. When we initially started, we were a children’s film festival. Our entire focus was on children. Now we have added the youth in the festival as well. We are trying to reach both children and youth, which is a challenge but we’re trying to direct it in the right way. We are marketing for youth in the types of names we bring, the film titles, the workshops as well as the way we market by using social media. We’re trying to follow where our audience is.”
There will also be several talks across the duration of the festival that tackle subjects from film marketing and the purpose of film festivals, to how cinema can make help viewers empathise with the struggle and plight of refugees. There is also a special talk related to films around the Palestinian cause, titled Palestine: Forging Connections Through Cinema.
“From the inception of the festival, we’ve always been trying to ensure we communicate the right information in the right way,” Sheikha Jawaher said.
“We didn’t want to just impart a rosy depiction of the world through just animations and comedies. There needs to be an aspect of reality. Children and youth need to know the meaning of the refugee experience. They need to know of the situation in Palestine.
“We are a platform for children and youth. We should try to reach them in a proper and educational way, to try and tell them what is happening in the world. That’s why we tried to ensure there are films about refugees from Palestine and about hunger, just as we wanted to incorporate films about family or comedic works. There needs to be a balance.”
Scroll through the gallery below for films screened at the Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth last year
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
SPECS
Mini John Cooper Works Clubman and Mini John Cooper Works Countryman
Engine: two-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 306hp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: JCW Clubman, Dh220,500; JCW Countryman, Dh225,500
Results
2pm: Serve U – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (Dirt) 1,400m; Winner: Violent Justice, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)
2.30pm: Al Shafar Investment – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,400m; Winner: Desert Wisdom, Bernardo Pinheiro, Ahmed Al Shemaili
3pm: Commercial Bank of Dubai – Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Fawaareq, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson
3.30pm: Shadwell – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer
4pm: Dubai Real Estate Centre – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Rakeez, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar
4.30pm: Al Redha Insurance Brokers – Handicap (TB) Dh78,000 (D) 1,800m; Winner: Capla Crusader, Bernardo Pinheiro, Rashed Bouresly
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
THURSDAY'S FIXTURES
4pm Maratha Arabians v Northern Warriors
6.15pm Deccan Gladiators v Pune Devils
8.30pm Delhi Bulls v Bangla Tigers
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Sui Dhaaga: Made in India
Director: Sharat Katariya
Starring: Varun Dhawan, Anushka Sharma, Raghubir Yadav
3.5/5
Notable cricketers and political careers
- India: Kirti Azad, Navjot Sidhu and Gautam Gambhir (rumoured)
- Pakistan: Imran Khan and Shahid Afridi (rumoured)
- Sri Lanka: Arjuna Ranatunga, Sanath Jayasuriya, Tillakaratne Dilshan (rumoured)
- Bangladesh (Mashrafe Mortaza)
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Stage 2
1. Mathieu van der Poel (NED) Alpecin-Fenix 4:18:30
2. Tadej Pogacar (SLV) UAE Team Emirates 0:00:06
3. Primoz Roglic (SLV) Jumbo-Visma 0:00:06
4. Wilco Kelderman (NED) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:06
5. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:00:08
Babumoshai Bandookbaaz
Director: Kushan Nandy
Starring: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bidita Bag, Jatin Goswami
Three stars
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
Zayed Sustainability Prize
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
