The Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth (SIFF) marked Italy as Guest of Honour at its 13th edition with an Italian Day programme featuring screenings, live performances, interactive workshops and cultural activities.
Organised by FANN, Media Discovery Platform, the event was held across VOX Cinemas at City Centre Al Zahia and the House of Wisdom, the festival said. The programme was designed to introduce children and young people to new creative experiences and storytelling perspectives through cinema and arts-based activities.
Italian film screenings and a Green Carpet premiere
The Green Carpet hosted the Middle East premiere of Forever With You, directed by Fabrizio Cattani, according to the festival. The film follows a young boy, Filo, who sets off into the forest with his friend Rolo to search for his missing dog, Pirlo. As the search continues, the story moves beyond the initial disappearance and explores themes of courage, friendship and overcoming fears, the release said.
At VOX Cinemas, Italian Day screenings also included Atlas of the Universe and the animated film Tales From The Magic Garden, the festival added. The schedule further included a selection of films made by children and young filmmakers, giving audiences a view of young creators’ ideas and experiences through cinema.
Workshops and performances inspired by Italian culture
At the House of Wisdom, visitors took part in performances and workshops inspired by Italian culture, the organisers said. Highlights included the La Dolce Vita Show, alongside a workshop titled Colombina Masks with an Italian Touch.
Inspired by Italian theatre traditions, the mask-making session introduced participants to mask design and explained how masks are used to portray characters and express emotions, according to the festival.
Italian cuisine was also featured through hands-on workshops on making traditional semolina pasta and tiramisu. Participants prepared the two dishes while learning about the customs and traditions associated with Italian food and everyday life, the release stated. A ceramic coaster painting workshop also encouraged attendees to create their own designs.
For young cinema enthusiasts and aspiring storytellers, the festival ran a Film Strip workshop on how sequences of images are used to tell visual stories. Another session, From Idea to Screen: How to Start Creating Your Content, guided participants through early steps for turning an idea into visual content, focusing on developing storytelling skills and creative ways to express ideas, the festival said.
The Italian Day programme formed part of SIFF’s broader aim, as described by the organisers, of discovering and nurturing the next generation of filmmakers.