"Sharjah International Film Festival 12" Opens creative horizons for young filmmakers

Sharjah, October 12 / WAM / The Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth, organized by the Fan Foundation, continued the activities of its 12th edition, and included the presentation of a wide range of performances, films and discussions.

The Green Carpet hosted the screening of the Saudi film “Hajir” by director Sarah Talab.

The festival witnessed the holding of the first “Cinema Project Presentation” sessions with the aim of opening horizons of cooperation and linking promising talents with producers and financing bodies, during which four filmmakers presented their projects to a group of professionals in the cinema sector. The list included the film project “Umm Hornet” by Saudi director Mujtaba Al-Hajji, whose short films received international acclaim and participated in more than 30 festivals around the world, in addition to the film project “The Crime House” by Emirati director Khaled Al Mahmoud, who was chosen by Screen International magazine as one of the ten best Arab directors worth following. It also included the project “Under the Abaya” by Saudi director Ahmed Al Nasser, who won several awards, including the Best Comedy Award at the FIT Film Festival in the United States of America, in addition to the film project “Zahra and the Ghoul” by Palestinian director Suhail Dahdal, head of the Media Department at the American University of Sharjah and founder and director. Creative for 5th Wall.

The festival organized a group of discussion sessions at VOX Cinemas in City Center Al Zahia, including “Contemporary Legends: Reimagining Arab Folklore and History through Cinema,” which witnessed remarkable interaction from Emirati filmmakers.

Emirati director Nujoom Al-Ghanim pointed out during the session that many filmmakers tend to deal with historical stories in their cinematic works because they are often safer in terms of expression in addition to the cultural depth and sense of identity they carry, pointing to a stage in which Arab cinema has the ability to develop to present historical stories in a contemporary and visually attractive style.

Emirati artist Ahmed Al Jasmi pointed out that comparison with huge international productions is one of the most prominent challenges facing the making of historical films directed to young audiences today, who have access to the best content in the world and Arab cinema is expected to provide the same level of quality, narration and production. There is a growing desire among Emirati youth to watch more local stories on the big screen and to follow works that express their identity. And their culture and daily life in an authentic and close to them way, stressing that the future of Arab and Emirati cinema depends on adventurous storytellers who dare to break patterns, experiment with cinematic genres, and reimagine the way our stories are told.

Emirati poet Khaled Al-Badour pointed out that the Arab film industry still faces many production constraints, ranging from financing and resources to limited modern technologies and distribution networks, which represents challenges that naturally affect the type of stories that are told, and it is often easier to turn to historical narratives.

The session “Young Filmmakers: Stories of Passion and Early Beginnings” reviewed the experiences of a number of young directors, including Angelo Visser, who said that the most important element in filmmaking is the ability to show human fragility, as it is what makes the story and scenes pulsate with honesty, while Mujtaba Al-Hajji stressed that passion and desire represent the most important thing a filmmaker can have, and I advise those with talent. The newcomers must be honest with themselves, preserving authenticity, which represents the source of true creativity and imagination. Boya Mufid said that his passion lies in telling stories that carry real meanings, stressing at the same time the importance of the filmmaker listening to people’s stories and getting close to society, where true art begins.

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