(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Sharjah International Childrens Film Festival opening today represents a great opportunity to unlock nurture and promote young talent and creativity.
His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah and his wife Shaikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs will open the second edition of the Sharjah International Children’s Film Festival today at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre.
Running until October 24 the festival represents a great opportunity to unlock nurture and promote young talent and creativity grow their awareness and develop their abilities.
It also enables professionals in the film industry to gain a deeper insight into children’s cinematic vision with support from FUNN organisation dedicated to promoting media arts for children and young people in Sharjah and the UAE in general.
This year’s edition will showcase many films by local and regional filmmakers as well as by internationally acclaimed filmmakers in addition to films from Latin America Africa Europe and the Far East.
The festival will exhibit a rich selection of films that reflect cultural diversity the distinct and multiple interests of their creators and audiences and the aesthetics of the seventh art.
It aims to nurture young talent and creative thinking giving young people the chance to have their films shown at local regional and international festivals and motivating them to develop their talents and abilities and pursue their dreams in all forms of media arts.
The six-day festival will be showing 112 films from 35 countries — a remarkable increase against the number of participating films in last year’s edition which saw the screening of 78 films from 32 countries. The festival allows government school students to watch film screenings which will take place at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre in the morning while private school students can enjoy films screened at Novo Cinemas in Sahara Centre.
The audience can watch films at both venues in the afternoon on a daily basis.
During the opening ceremony Dr Shaikh Sultan will honour the winners of the children’s film competition which covers five categories: the best short film; best feature film; best animated film; best documentary; and best child-made film. The winners will receive the festival’s trophy.
The film competition is a new event added to this year’s edition.
The festival represents a new start for the children’s cinema industry in the Middle East focusing on high quality cinema that presents influential ideas and content produced using outstanding cinema practices to motivate young talented people to pursue their dreams in the art world.
It also seeks to encourage established film-makers to produce high quality films which tackle issues that support children’s causes in the Arab World and beyond. -newskhaleejtimes.com