FANN concludes its creative programme

The programme comes within FANN commitments and responsibilities aimed at promoting media and visual arts among youth, embodying the vision of the wife of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in Sharjah, which aims to prepare an aware and qualified generation to engage in the local and global cultural system.

Sheikha Jawaher bint Abdullah Al Qasimi, Director General of FANN and Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth, stressed FANN keenness to expand the intellectual and creative horizons of children, and enable them to undergo distinctive cultural experiences. 

Sheikha Jawaher bint Abdullah Al Qasimi said that FANN, through its initiatives, seeks to support creative children and youth, develop their artistic and media capabilities, and unleash their imagination, believing in the importance of expanding their intellectual and cultural horizons, and providing them with the tools they need to stimulate their spirit of innovation and encourage them to express themselves in an environment that combines entertainment and creativity. She noted that training programmes contribute to enhancing the capabilities of young people in the fields of media arts, starting from photography to filmmaking, and give them the opportunity to participate in enriching the local creative scene. 

The training programme, which was supervised by FANN from June to September 2024, saw a remarkable turnout from participants aged 12 years and above, and included a series of specialised courses in filmmaking, including the “2D Animation” workshop presented by Sahar Abdullah, where she trained participants on methods of creating animation using tablets and computer programmes, explaining the differences between them and 3D graphics, and how to produce short animation films.

The “Cinematic Language” workshop presented by director Ahmed Al Mutawa focused on introducing students to the arts of filmmaking and its different types. Photographer Abdullah Al Buqaish presented the “Mobile Filmmaking” workshop, during which he sought to train participants on the steps of capturing and filming complete scenes using the lenses of their mobile phones, in addition to methods of editing that enable them to produce complete clips and short films. 

The programme also included a number of specialised workshops in photography, including the "Photo Editing" workshop, managed by Hisham Bin Suwaif, during which participants learned the methods of editing photos according to the standards adopted in international photography competitions and festivals. In addition, FANN, in cooperation with Al Bataeh Cultural and Sports Club and Nikon, organised a "Sports Photography" course, during which participants trained on sports photography techniques, how to deal with fast-moving scenes, and learned how to adjust the shutter speed on the camera to take clear pictures of players while they move. 

As part of its interest in people of determination, FANN organised, in cooperation with Sharjah Social Services Department (SSSD), a workshop entitled "Basics of Photography for People of Determination", where photographer Jamila Ahmed provided them with special training on photography techniques and the basics of taking and editing photos. 

As part of its participation in the "Sharjah Science Museum" summer camp, FANN organised, in cooperation with "Nikon", an "Introduction to Photography" workshop.

Moreover, to encourage youth to hone their photography skills, FANN organised an intensive seven-day training trip to Belgium, which included the city of Dinant and its surrounding areas, where they participated in a series of interactive workshops held in a number of tourist and historical landmarks, such as the Castle of Freÿr and its gardens. They also gained practical experience in taking pictures inside the dark caves of the “Caves of Han”, with a focus on highlighting the aesthetics of these places through the lens. They were also trained in the “Wild Park” on how to take panoramic photos and photograph wildlife. In Durbuy and the Adventure Park, participants learned about techniques for photographing large rocks, and underwent advanced educational sessions in photo editing using the “Lightroom” programme, which contributed to enriching their artistic skills. 

The Fantastic Summer Camp, organised by FANN at its headquarters in Sharjah, included a variety of artistic and creative workshops that enabled children to discover the masterpieces of drama and learn the basics of acting, physical and vocal expression, in addition to inventing scenes and creating and developing characters, which is in line with FANN goals aimed at investing in children and enabling them to express their ideas in innovative ways.