Sultan bin Ahmed, Jawaher Al Qasimi attend Children's Film Conf

During her speech, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher expressed her heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in the festival and conference, including participants, speakers, and organizers. The main discussion focused on a significant topic: "The Palestinian Cause." She emphasized that this issue has always been important to the UAE and especially to Sharjah. Her Highness highlighted the deep affection that the community has for Palestine, stating that it is a love that will never fade away.

Her Highness emphasized that some individuals are misusing social media and other modern platforms to spread false information and manipulate young people's thoughts. Her Highness stated that such attempts and excuses will not sway a wise and thoughtful person who believes in God from recognizing the true situation in Palestine and the experiences of its people.

The Chairperson of the Sharjah Family and Community Council spoke about the importance of Arab citizens in supporting the Palestinian cause. She highlighted the need to be honest, speak freely, and share the true situation in Palestine. Her Highness pointed out that the people of Palestine are like family to us—they are our neighbors, our brothers and sisters, and our friends. She reminded everyone that it is our responsibility to stand by them and offer our support.

Her Highness reached out to leaders in the country’s media industry, encouraging them to maintain their current integrity and to utilize social media effectively. Her Highness emphasized the importance of sharing messages that build support for Palestine in people’s minds and hearts, asking them to be vigilant about the content shared with children, ensuring it aligns with Islamic values and cultural traditions. Her Highness also reminded everyone that future generations should stand together with the Palestinians.

The Chairperson of the Sharjah Family and Community Council highlighted the need to resist any media that harms the morals of children and young people. She pointed out that certain movies and video games can promote harmful behavior, which could have negative effects on society as a whole. Her Highness urged everyone in the Emirati community to play an active role in safeguarding children from these harmful influences at home.

The opening ceremony began with a special film screening showcasing some of the best movies featured at this year's festival. This is the 12th edition of the festival, featuring 74 films selected from a pool of 1,740 submissions from 26 different countries. Many talented filmmakers and experts in cinema and media from around the world are also participating in the event.

Sheikha Jawaher bint Abdullah Al Qasimi, Director General of the Rubu’ Qarn for Creating Future Leaders and Director of the Sharjah International Film Festival,  recently gave a speech. In her remarks, she emphasized that Sharjah strongly believes in the potential of children and young people as the future leaders of our world. This belief is the main reason behind the creation of the film festival. Thanks to the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and with the support of his wife, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Family and Community Council, the festival has become a unique part of Sharjah’s cultural scene. It aims to reach both local and international audiences while focusing on educating and raising awareness among future generations.

Sheikha Jawaher bint Abdullah shared her thoughts on the Sharjah International Film Festival, which started back in 2013. She described it as a special event that helps young people explore their creativity, develop their skills, and inspire them to think outside the box. The festival isn't just about watching films; it's also a powerful way to learn important life lessons and connect fun with knowledge and good values. Over the years, it has welcomed more than 234,000 visitors and showcased over 12,000 films from 95 different countries, including more than 250 films made by children and young people themselves.

SIFF continues to play a vital role in shaping a creative future for the next generation, helping them appreciate culture and express who they are to the world. A new addition to the festival is the International Children's and Youth Film Conference, which aims to bring together filmmakers and experts to share ideas and envision the future of cinema.

Talking about the aims and themes of the International Children's and Youth Film Conference, the Director of the SIFF stated, "We are discussing three main themes: strengthening the voices of Palestinian children through cinema, the role of children and youth in the film industry and their impact on shaping its future, and the role of festivals in shaping the future of Arab and international cinema. These discussions aim to exchange experiences and open a global dialogue on the role of cinema in building awareness across generations and shaping a more humane future. Through them, we reaffirm our commitment to empowering the new generation of creators and strengthening Sharjah's position as a beacon that inspires generations and embraces talent."

His Highness the Deputy Ruler and Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed also attended a discussion session titled "Shining a Light on the Stories of Palestinian Children through Film" featured a panel of distinguished speakers: Sheikha Jawaher bint Abdullah; Ferdous Belboulia, the director of the Nelson Mandela Film Festival; and Mohammed Kablawi, the founder and CEO of the Malmö Arab Film Festival. They shared their insights and experiences in using cinema to amplify the voices of young Palestinians.

SIFF’s director spoke about how the festival helps children become storytellers instead of just audience members. Through workshops and discussions, kids learn valuable skills like sound, lighting, and directing, using the latest tools and technology. She highlighted the importance of children's voices, stating that their messages can express powerful stories that matter.

She highlighted that Palestinian children deserve to share their stories and have their voices heard. Their experiences are not just personal; they shape the history and memory of their homeland and the struggles it faces. She stressed that the festival aims to bring these children's voices to the world through films. It's important for us to listen to them, show them respect, and support them in all situations.

Ferdous Belboulia shared her thoughts on how important the Sharjah International Children's and Youth Film Festival is for helping young people grow and develop their skills. She talked about the challenges she faced when she first started her career as a filmmaker. Ferdous highlighted the need to tell real and genuine stories from around the world, especially focusing on the experiences of Palestinian children. Through her films, she aims to connect with the audience emotionally and leave a lasting impression about these important issues. The director of the Nelson Mandela Film Festival urged filmmakers to connect with their audience by focusing on the small details of their stories, especially when tackling tough subjects or real-life challenges. She noted that while it’s easy to talk about these ideas, making them come to life in a film is much more difficult. She also highlighted that in the past, the film industry and training for young filmmakers in South Africa didn’t get much attention. However, there are now efforts underway to emphasize the importance of nurturing this talent and improving the film sector.

Mohammed Kablawi, the founder and CEO of the Malmö Arab Film Festival, recently spoke about the importance of supporting humanitarian needs worldwide. He highlighted the festival's ongoing commitment to the Palestinian cause and Palestinian cinema, showcasing 32 films from Palestine that tell the stories and experiences of Palestinians living through changing times. Kablawi emphasized that films have a unique power to communicate emotions and stories in a way that news reports often can’t capture. He urged writers and filmmakers to show that Palestinian children have hopes and dreams just like anyone else. He highlighted the need to connect audiences around the world with the Palestinian story to make sure their message is understood. He wrapped up by mentioning that many film festivals get financial support from international sources, and this funding should be used to enhance and grow the filmmaking industry globally.

Their Highnesses also participated in the second session of the conference, which focused on "The Role of Children and Youth in the Film Industry and Their Impact on Shaping its Future." Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of the National Media Office and Chairman of the UAE Media Council, talked about the children's film industry and the support it receives from the government. He highlighted that the government is working hard to attract big companies in film production to help grow the industry in the country. He mentioned that one of his biggest challenges is bringing all the different groups involved in the film industry together, as they are currently spread out in various locations. He also pointed out that the film industry can be very expensive and that patience is necessary to see real progress over time.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hamed discussed ways to engage young people in the film industry, emphasising that this field has become increasingly focused on financial gain. He mentioned that nowadays, tools like artificial intelligence are helping to cut costs and boost the production of films. He also reminisced about beloved animated movies from the past, like "Adnan and Lina," which many people still remember fondly. He encouraged filmmakers to look at these classic films as examples of success and to use what made them great in today’s projects. He also spoke about new rules and laws created by government agencies to support Emirati cinema. He shared a fresh approach that will give local movies a higher chance of being shown in theatres. He emphasized that Emirati films are among the best in the region and highlighted the importance of promoting them.

Sheikh Abdullah Al Hamed wrapped up his comments by highlighting the film festival's workshops and sessions that support the film industry. He also commended the Emirate of Sharjah for its efforts, which consistently aim for positive results and seek to make the most out of every event. He encouraged everyone to follow the guidance of our leaders, stay away from rumors and negativity, and get news from official sources within the country.

Children's and Youth Film Conference is a unique event in the Arab world that highlights the significance of films in shaping young people's lives. It brings together filmmakers and experts so they can share ideas and talk about the various challenges and possibilities in creating films for children and youth. The conference aims to encourage meaningful storytelling and support new talent in the industry. This event reflects Sharjah's important role in boosting the film and media sector, making it a key place for artists and providing great opportunities for young creatives across the Arab world.

The opening ceremony was attended by Their Highnesses Sheikha Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Government Relations; Sheikha Jawaher bint Abdullah Al Qasimi, Director General of the Rubu' Qarn and Director of the Sharjah International Film Festival; Sheikha Hind bint Majid Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Sharjah Business Women Council; Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of the National Media Office and Chairman of the UAE Media Council; and several senior officials, representatives of participating entities, film industry professionals, and guests of honor.