Sharjah24: The "Sharjah Cinema Days" initiative, organised by the FANN Foundation - Media Discovery Platform, kicked off yesterday in Buhais - Sharjah Geology Park, running until March 3. Its primary objective is to foster an innovative platform that nurtures creators and empowers emerging talents. By building a community of cinema enthusiasts and experts from various sectors, aims to inspire them to achieve their visions and share their creations with society.
This initiative seeks to globalize the experience of the Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth while bolstering cultural and artistic exchanges with regional and international festivals, it will showcase the richness of Sharjah and its environs, renowned for their diverse capabilities, landmarks, and captivating tourist attractions.
The opening ceremony was held in the presence of Sheikha Jawaher bint Abdullah Al Qasimi, Director General of FANN Foundation - Media Discovery Platform and the Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth, Sheikh Salem bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Director of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Qasimi, Director of the Department of Municipal Affairs, artists, directors and workers in the film industry from the UAE and the region followed a series of artistic performances inspired by filmmakers and presented on stage by a group of local performance groups.
In her speech, Sheikha Jawaher bint Abdullah Al Qasimi stressed that “Sharjah Cinema Days” was designed to provide an innovative platform capable of supporting members of the creative community and filmmakers and enabling them to contribute to enriching the local cultural and artistic scene, in addition to giving the public an integrated cultural experience that highlights the richness of local culture and cultural diversity. International, by bringing together all types of art under the Sharjah sky, and by presenting a mixture of artistic installations inspired by the world of films, artistic performances, workshops, and panel discussions.
She said: “Through Sharjah Cinema Days, we seek to enhance the love of the seventh art in the hearts of everyone and enable them to explore the magic of cinema and the masterpieces of arts and design that meet in all their shades under the Sharjah sky. This comes within the framework of the efforts of the FANN Foundation aimed at creating a unique space for them. Which brings together art lovers and contributes to opening the door to creators and artists, enabling them to express their artistic visions, and encouraging them to interact with each other within an inspiring atmosphere.”
Al Qasimi expressed her aspirations to transform “Sharjah Cinema Days” into a global event capable of transferring our distinctive local experience to many countries of the world, which enhances cultural exchange with them and enriches our comprehensive creative experience. She added: “During the cinema days, our visitors will experience special moments in which they will witness the renewal of the art map starting from the Emirate of Sharjah towards the world. They will also learn about artistic productions inspired by the magic of cinema, bearing the imprints of a group of our young talents and expressing their orientations, in addition to exploring the cultures of the world and beyond.”
For 5 days, the audience and cinema lovers will watch a variety of films, as each day will have its theme and during which a specific category of cinematic works will be presented. In this context, visitors will witness this evening, Wednesday (February 28th), the screening of the Japanese film “Howl’s Castle.” “Howl’s Moving Castle” directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli, while the initiative’s screens on Friday evening show a series of Gulf short films, namely: “Congratulations, Ma Yak,” “A Policeman’s Story,” and “Shaaban 27.” “Nour Shams” and “Our Neighbor Bu Hamad,” which are part of the Gulf Night’s activities.
Through the series of workshops and panel discussions during Sharjah Cinema Days, the FANN seeks to create a creative environment that enables Emirati directors to communicate with their counterparts from around the world, exchange expertise and experiences with them, and benefit from them in developing their work and creative ideas and communicating them to the world, which reflects positively on the local art scene.
On the other hand, Sharjah Cinema Days will host a group of artistic works and installations inspired by the world of cinema, including the “Arabwood” collection by Emirati artist Ali Mubarak Al Saadi, who was inspired by the posters of the most popular films such as “Harry Potter” and “Alaa.” Religion” and others, to highlight the richness of the cultural and knowledge stock of the local community.
As for photographer Hamad Al Jasmi, through his visual artistic work “Emirates Nostalgia,” he showcased a group of well-known landmarks in the Emirates in their old form, trying at the same time to anticipate the future, while visual artist Ahlam Al Bannai, head of the Applied Media Department at the Higher Colleges of Technology in Dubai, presented her artistic work. “Sustainable Minds” is inspired by the words of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, which focus on humans as the basic pillar of sustainability and development.
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