Sharjah’s Department of Government Relations chairman His Excellency Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan bin Khalid Al Qasimi officially inaugurated the 13th edition of the Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth (SIFF) on Sunday, 25 October 2026, the organisers said.
The festival is organised by FANN – Media Discovery Platform and is held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. The opening ceremony at the University of the Arts in Sharjah was attended by His Excellency Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of the National Media Office, and Her Excellency Sheikha Jawaher bint Abdullah Al Qasimi, Director General of Rubu’ Qarn Foundation for Creating Leaders and Innovators and Director of SIFF, along with industry figures from the UAE and abroad.
Guest of Honour Italy and festival programme
Italian cinema was named this year’s Guest of Honour, with organisers saying the programme aims to introduce young audiences to Italian storytelling while encouraging creative exchange between the UAE and Italy.
SIFF, running until 1 November, will screen 71 films from 38 countries in its official competition, alongside eight out-of-competition screenings. The festival’s selection, organisers said, came from 1,802 submissions received from 72 countries.
New participating countries for the festival include Brunei, Burkina Faso and Mauritania. Organisers also said Egypt, France, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and India have the highest number of selected films. Screenings are scheduled at VOX Cinemas in City Centre Al Zahia and the House of Wisdom.
Awards for lifetime achievements and youth winners
At the ceremony, Huda Ahmed Al Harmoudi, Deputy Director of FANN, said the festival is guided by a 13-year commitment to supporting children’s dreams and giving young people a voice, according to the remarks included in the release.
Organisers said Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, accompanied by Sheikha Jawaher bint Abdullah Al Qasimi, presented Lifetime Achievement Awards to Habib Ghuloom (UAE), Mohammed Al Mansour (GCC) and Mona Wassef (Middle East). Youth awards were presented to Ahmed Al Mazem (UAE), Nasser Al Dosari (GCC), and Ali El Beialy and Retal Abdulaziz (Middle East).
The release also included remarks from Ahmed Al Mazem and Ali El Beialy reflecting on their experiences with SIFF and on how they view cinema as a platform for young people’s creativity, while organisers attributed statements to the individuals named.
World premiere and jury selections
SIFF opened with the world premiere of Mangrove House, directed by Emirati filmmaker Khalid Al Mahmood. The organisers said the film follows young siblings who try to sell fish they have caught, using music to attract customers and encourage purchases.
Organisers introduced the jury members for the festival’s 13th edition, with competitions covering Arabic and international short films, animation categories, documentary, student work, and feature films. The release listed jurors including Giulio Vita, Layaly Badr, Ghassan Abdullah Kharroub, Ji-hoon Choi, Abbas Yousefi, Donato Di Carlo, Rosh Abdelfattah, Dr Bahaa Al-Kadhimi, Fadi Haddad, Sohail Dahdal, and Darin J. Sallam, among others.
Promising Jurors and Green Carpet screenings
Organisers said SIFF continues to involve young participants in film evaluation through its Promising Jurors Programme for cinema enthusiasts aged 12 to 20, with sessions focused on film criticism, analysis, and the judging process. A programme for former jurors, Festival Ambassadors, was also described.
The release further said SIFF will include three Green Carpet screenings featuring films from Thailand, Italy, Austria and Germany. Screenings start with the Thai film Gohan on 29 October, followed by Italy’s Forever With You on 30 October, with the programme concluding on 31 October with the Austrian-German animated film Monster Mia.
National Media Authority and FANN agree festival cooperation
In a separate announcement dated 26 October, the National Media Authority and FANN said they had signed a memorandum of understanding to support the film industry and content for children and young people. The authority joins SIFF 2026 as an official supporting partner, with cooperation covering institutional coordination, film screening procedures, media activities and the exchange of technical expertise.
The agreement was signed on the festival’s opening day at the Rubu’ Qarn platform in City Centre Al Zahia, according to the announcement. SIFF director Sheikha Jawaher bint Abdullah Al Qasimi and National Media Authority Secretary-General Mohammed Saeed Al Shehhi attended the signing.
The organisations said the partnership will help coordinate screening permits with relevant institutions and authorities, provide training for festival teams on the authority’s electronic services and support the festival’s communications. Authority representatives may also participate in juries and film evaluations under the approved judging criteria. Both organisations described the initiative as a way to support emerging filmmakers and strengthen the UAE’s creative industries.