As a seasoned movie connoisseur with a penchant for uncovering hidden gems and nurturing young talent, I can’t help but feel a surge of excitement upon learning about the inaugural edition of the Sharjah Intl. Film Festival for Children and Youth‘s film market. With my decades of experience attending and participating in various international film festivals, I have witnessed firsthand the power of such platforms to foster collaboration, inspire new ideas, and catapult careers into the limelight.
The upcoming 11th Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth (from October 6th to 12th) will introduce its first ever festival market. This marketplace, referred to as a “knowledge and networking hub,” offers an engaging platform for filmmakers, aspiring talents, and students to showcase their ideas and projects to industry professionals.
Previously, we limited ourselves to panel discussions, however, this year, we’ve expanded to utilizing the entire Zahia Theatre, as stated by Fatima Ibrahim Musharbek, head of the film festival at SIFF. This upgrade is based on feedback from filmmakers and our observations at other renowned international festivals such as Berlinale and Cannes. After 11 years of SIFF, we decided to introduce a market to further enhance our offerings.
Sheikha Jawaher Abdullah Al Qasimi, head of SIFF and FANN (the festival’s parent organization), mentioned that the reason for establishing the market is to extend our reach beyond just focusing on children and youth, who have always been our main concern. Although we’ve historically invited filmmakers and producers to take part in discussions and Q&A sessions aimed at a younger audience at the festival, we saw potential for more engagement.
As a movie enthusiast, I’d like to share my thoughts: Filmmakers frequently emphasize the necessity of a platform for them to discuss their works and network with fellow creators. The uniqueness of our festival lies in the fact that it caters specifically to children and young adults. Consequently, our evenings are geared towards the wider film industry, while mornings are reserved for filmmakers, universities, and schools. By doing so, we foster collaboration between filmmakers and students, inspiring a new generation who may one day bring their own projects back to us.
In this series of panel discussions, you’ll find topics such as “Essential Pitching Techniques for Independent Filmmakers” led by screenwriter Nadia Tabbara, “From Stage to Screen” featuring Emirati artist Marwan Abdullah Saleh and Kuwaiti artist Abdullah Al-Tarawa, “Exploring Visual Effects: The Secret Behind the Magic” with designer Sebastian Reichhold, and “Bringing Your Imaginary Characters to Life: Encouraging Youth to Explore Animation” with Maya Fidawi.
In this bustling marketplace, I’ll be partaking in an enlightening session about independent film distribution. This discussion will feature industry experts hailing from our region, including Bassam Al-Asaad of Creative Media Solutions, Elie Touma from Front Row Sales, and the esteemed Emirati director, Ahmed Zein.
As a follower connected to the programming tied to SIFF’s Guest of Honour country, Palestine, I will be partaking in a panel discussion focusing on the production of Arabic content for children and youth, alongside Hanna Atallah and Ola Salama from Lab Palestine Film. Additionally, I will be leading a session with Haifa Bseiso, discussing the future direction of the Palestinian narrative within cinema, as represented by director Omar Rimal.
Al Qasimi shared that our aim is to transform the festival into more than just screenings and debates; it should be a lively center of activity within the film industry. Here, fresh concepts are conceived, connections are established, and agreements are sealed. He emphasized that this year marks the start, with our ultimate objective being to establish the Film Market as a crucial meeting point for the industry, fostering creativity and collaboration for many years ahead.
Despite it being the inaugural year of our Film Market, we’re brimming with ambition for what lies ahead. Our vision encompasses the establishment of a film fund, among other exciting initiatives such as pitching sessions and a work-in-progress showcase. However, what truly excites us is the prospect of launching our own film fund, which we are actively discussing and aim to put into action within the next two to three years. It’s crucial for us to provide this financial support because, if we want to motivate more filmmakers to create movies specifically for children and young adults, we need to offer them the necessary funding. This is a key point that Ibrahim Musharbek emphasized.
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2024-09-28 21:48