Sharjah Film Fest: Global Cinema for Youth

The 13th Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth (SIFF) will present a diverse cinematic landscape from October 26 to October 31, 2026. Films from Thailand, Brazil, India, Italy, and across the Arab world will be showcased in the UAE. The festival boasts a lineup of 71 films selected from 1,802 submissions representing 72 countries, with eight additional films screening out of competition.

The Green Carpet program includes Middle East premieres of films like the Thai drama "Gohan," the Italian feature "Forever With You," and the animated "Monster Mia." The Gulf premiere of Argentine film "Risa and the Wind Phone" and the Middle East premiere of Indian film "87 Rupees Ink Pen" are also featured. Brazilian director Celia Catunda's animated "My Grandfather Is a Nihonjin" and the Czech-French-Slovak-Slovenian stop-motion feature "Tales From the Magic Garden" add to the animation selection.

Local talent is represented through shorts like Abdulrahman Al Madani's "Oug," which addresses societal pressures. Young filmmakers will have dedicated competition slots. Workshops will focus on stop-motion and flipbook animation, cinematography, production management, and content creation. Italy, as the country of honor, will lead workshops on photography and storytelling inspired by Italian cinema.

The festival also includes industry-focused panels. "Film Festivals Decoded" will explore the selection process with festival programmers, while "How Do I Get My Next Film Made?" will address financing and co-production. The Industry Hub and pitching sessions will provide networking opportunities for emerging filmmakers. Morning screenings are for students, with evening screenings open to the public.