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Sultan and Jawaher Al Qasimi Witness the Opening of Sharjah International Children’s Film Festival 2018

October 14, 2018

• Sixth edition of annual film festival for children launched on Sunday evening

• SICFF 2018 will screen 138 films, host 40 filmmakers, and organise 6 panels discussions and several workshops

• Neel Sethi, Karishma Kapoor, Haifa Hussein and Abdullah Al Kaabi – special guests at the opening ceremony

• SICFF 2019 to be named ‘Sharjah International Children and Youth Film Festival’ in 2019.


Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi:

“The festival is a special celebration of childhood.

“SICFF is creative enterprise dedicated to nurturing a generation of talented media professionals in the Arab world.”

For immediate release

Sharjah, October 14, 2018

His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and his wife, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs (SCFA), witnessed the opening of the sixth edition of the annual weeklong cinematic feast dedicated to the UAE’s children – the Sharjah International Children’s Film Festival (SICFF 2018).

Organised by FUNN – Sharjah Media Arts for Youth and Children – the festival is themed ‘Think Cinema’ and will run its course at the Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre (JRCC), and features an unprecedented 138 films from 31 countries, as well as workshops, panel discussions and appearances by the film world’s top celebrities and industry professionals.

The opening ceremony witnessed His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi honouring Emirati director Abdullah Al Kaabi, Bahraini artist Haifa Hussein, and American-Indian child actor, Neel Sethi who plays Mowgli in the 2016 release of “Jungle Book”.

Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs said: “The festival, which has been returning for six years with new films and many media related workshops for children has become a special celebration of childhood. It is an occasion to strengthen the role of media arts in developing our children’s imaginations and nurturing their minds with noble values portrayed by memorable cinematic tales that create a strong impact on children’s personalities and aspirations.”

Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher highlighted the importance of cinema as a universal language that influences and shapes the global youth culture, which is why it is imperative that filmmakers and media organisations worldwide collectively preserve the role of cinema in formulating a unified culture that connects people.

Her Highness continued: “In today’s world, children’s cinema needs to be emphasised more as a vehicle of goodness, truth and empathy. It is a powerful tool, which can assist parents and educators in fostering noble values in their children and give them hope.”

Her Highness affirmed that SICFF is a creative enterprise dedicated to nurturing a generation of talented media professionals in the Arab world. Affirming that cinema is the “truest mirror of our realities in history”, HH Sheikha Jawaher asserted that it offers a faithful picture of human expression and is an impactful tool to build a better world for children.

International movie stars

The opening ceremony was attended by an impressive collective of filmmakers and producers. The festival is hosting “Jungle Book” star Neel Sethi, who played the character of Mowgli in its 2016 live-action adaptation by Jon Favreau; acclaimed Bollywood star; Bahraini artist Haifa Hussein; and Emirati director, Abdullah Al Kaabi.

In her keynote speech, Sheikha Jawaher bint Abdullah Al Qasimi, Director of SICFF and FUNN, said: “Human beings have invented what brings us here today: The camera that gave rise to the art form of cinema to document human experiences, which can be lived over and over again. We all know that in being here today and marking the opening of another edition of SICFF, we are creating the newest memory in the long-cherished history of Sharjah’s vibrant cultural movement.”

She added: “Since its inception, six years ago, SICFF, its staff and sponsors have been committed to encouraging the young generation to achieve their dreams, offering them the knowledge and guidance to express themselves through cinema and media arts. We have shown hundreds of movies, organised hundreds of workshops and training sessions, and held several intellectual discussions to foster the talent within thousands of children and young people.”

Highlighting the humanitarian messages communicated by SICFF, the festival director said: “We are keen to promote SICFF’s humanitarian impact and its noble role and efforts towards elevating the status of refugee children. Last year, we visited Zaatari camp for Syrian refugees in Jordan where we screened a collection of films for hundreds of refugee children, and hosted a number of workshops and fun activities where we spent quality time with them.”

She noted that SICFF 2018 will be screening 13 short films on refugees to bridge the understanding and awareness of the refugee crisis and highlight the plight of refugee children caught up in crises.

“We continue to communicate the humanitarian message of Sharjah to the world, in line with vision of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah to promote knowledge, culture and arts as key promoters of human civilisation. The universal language of global cultural assets like cinema and their role in bridging differences and bringing the world together cannot be overstated. We continue our efforts to establish SICFF as a unique global platform that allows young people to express their creativity,” Sheikha Jawaher bint Abdullah emphasised.

To this end, the SICFF 2018 Director, with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi, announced that the scope of the film festival in the seventh edition will expand to include a greater focus on enhancing the youth’s artistic and creative capabilities, and will be launched next year under the title, ‘Sharjah International Children and Youth Film Festival’ in 2019.

Guests and speeches

In his speech, Emirati director Abdullah Al Kaabi recalled his memories about how his passion for film started when he used to rent video cassettes for AED 5 as a boy. Al Kaabi spoke about how the explosion of colours on screen raised his curiosity.

Addressing children, Al Kaabi said; “Why am I sharing this story with you? It’s because today, you would know nothing of these hardships and today, you can be as skillful as any other filmmaker who has been working in this field forever. Why? Because of a piece of miraculous technology in every one’s pocket. The mobile phone can do wonders, which at the turn of the century no one would have believed were possible. These devices can record, edit, mix sound, add subtitles – you name it! There’s a full production crew at the tip of your fingers.”

He added: “The art of filmmaking does not just depend on our technical skills; a lot is determined by our passion to tell a story that can inspire millions and build bridges between cultures.”

Bahraini artist Haifa Hussein said: “It is a great honour to be here today in Sharjah, the emirate whose countless achievements are a reflection of the wisdom of the ruler, His Highness Sheikh Sultan Al Qasimi, the father of letter and the icon of culture, arts and literature. Thank you, Sheikh Sultan, for your authentic Arab thought. I would also like to extend my deepest gratitude to Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi for her support and care towards nurturing our childhood with creativity.”

She continued: “You both inspire us to be creative and excel in everything we do. In your footsteps, we are determined to work hard and raise the stature of our countries, culture and arts.”

Child actor, Neel Sethi, then took stage to share his inspiring journey in cinema. He said: “It was the best time of my life and it was the hardest time of my life. I learned to be an actor while being a student, a son, a brother and a kid. I also learned so much about the movie making industry and how important it is in our society! Just like Sher Khan didn’t accept me in the jungle, and I, Mowgli, had to make my own place, we too need to make our own place in this world.

“As children, our voice is heard on the biggest screen in the world! As a diverse population, our cultures are embraced on the biggest screen in the world! So, if you are an actor, or inspiring to be one, remember this! You are given the responsibility to represent! You work twice as hard to do something you love to bring happiness, drama, comedy and most of all awareness through film!”

Movie premiers, workshops and panel discussions

The six-day event kicked off with the Middle Eastern premier of ‘My Giraffe’, a feature film by Dutch filmmaker, Barbara Bredero. The film tackles the story of a special friendship between a little boy, Patterson Pepps, and Raff, a giraffe.

This year’s edition is screening 54 premiers from 17 countries that cover genres like feature films, documentaries, animations as well as international shorts, student-made and Arab films. These include 2 international, 34 Middle Eastern, seven Emirati, and one GCC premiers.

The festival is hosting six panel discussions featuring internationally acclaimed industry experts and professionals, notably Brian Ferguson, a Walt Disney Animation Studios animator, who will talk about ‘Disney World between Past and Present’.

Animation artist Simon Medard from Camera-etc animation studio and Lebanese filmmaker Diaa Mulaeb will highlight plight of refugees at a panel titled ‘Filmmaking with Refugees’.

Speakers at other panels include Emirati author and scenarist Hamad Al Shehabi, and Bahraini filmmaker Mohammed Ibrahim, who is also a board member at the Bahrain Cinema Club and Head of the Special Film Screenings Committee. Other panelists also include Journalist and movie critic, Mansura Abdul Amir and Emirati actor-filmmaker Abdullah Al Humairi.

Local and international sponsors

The festival has received the generous patronage of Crescent Enterprises and Gulftainer (Gold Partner), Tilal Properties (Silver Partner), Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (Bronze partners), OSN, FUJIFILM, INSTAX, Sharjah Airport and Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Support sponsors), Emirates, BMW AGMC (Official Carrier) and Majid Kids TV (Official Children TV Partner).

SICFF’s media partners include Sharjah Media Corporation (Media Partner), and Sharjah Government Media Bureau (Strategic Media Partner). Al Majaz Waterfront, Last Exit Dubai, Al Zorah, Cinema City IMAX and JRCC (Venue Partners), Centro (Hospitality Partner), and the Union of Arab Photographers, Emirates Photographers Society, Ajyaal, Nikon School and Third Eye Photo and Media Production are education partners.

SICFF 2018 also organises an array of workshops on filmmaking at JRCC throughout its duration. Workshops titled ‘Stop Motion for Special Needs’, ‘3D Films’, ‘Introduction to Photoshop’ and ‘Basics of Photoshop’, and ‘Photography Tricks’, in addition to a workshop on cinema tricks, and a workshop on special makeup effects will be organised.


October 14, 2018
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