The festival's winning films will be available on major streaming platforms through partnerships inked by SIFF.
The 11th edition of the Sharjah International Film Festival for Children & Youth (SIFF) came to a close on October 12, 2024 with a grand closing ceremony at the Sharjah Research, Technology, and Innovation Complex. Held under the patronage of HH Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, the event celebrated exceptional filmmakers, directors, and professionals from the industry.
The event, attracting over 50,000 visitors across six days, treated audiences to 100 films from more than 90 countries, including a debut participation from Zimbabwe. The festival’s ‘Green Carpet’ platform premiered three films for the first time in the Middle East. Additionally, with Palestine as the festival’s first-ever guest of honour, SIFF featured a series of Palestinian films and workshops inspired by Palestinian heritage.
SIFF’s prestigious competition awarded filmmakers in eight categories. Amakor, directed by Ahmed Al-Khodary, took home the Best Feature Film award, while Mar Mama by Magdy Al-Omari, was recognised as the Best Arabic Short Film. Hooves, directed by Fargul Masroorad and Hossein Zeitounejad, was honoured with the Best International Short Feature award, and The Seven Waves, directed by Asma Bseiso, claimed Best Documentary Film. In the animation categories, Diplodocus by Wojtek Favsztyk won Best Animated Feature Film, and Lola and the Sound Piano, directed by Augusto Zanovilo, was awarded Best Animated Short. Recordari, directed by Carolina Cruz, was recognized as Best Student Film, while Differentiation, directed by Yeha Kwon, won Best Film Made by Children and Youth.
This year’s winning films, through partnerships, will be available on major streaming platforms like Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Hulu, and Roku announced Sheikha Jawaher bint Abdullah Al Qasimi, General Director of FANN and SIFF. The initiative underscores SIFF’s commitment to supporting filmmakers and giving global audiences access to independent artistic works. She also expressed her gratitude to the festival’s dedicated teams and volunteers, referring to them as the “spirit of the festival” for their pivotal role in its success.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Sheikha Jawaher praised SIFF’s role in enriching artistic appreciation among future generations, making it a key component of Sharjah’s thriving cultural landscape. “The festival has evolved into a unique model in the Arab cultural scene, celebrating the cinema of children, teenagers, and youth while offering a platform for talented individuals to express their creative visions,” she said. She highlighted that the diversity and quality of the films captivated both jury members and audiences alike.
