The initiative is designed as three thematic segments highlighting child-friendly animated features, pioneering sci-fi films and significant works of Arab cinema. Each screening is followed by either a talk or a workshop expanding on the film’s cinematic language, historical context and social theme.

By bringing together diverse cinematic traditions and perspectives, Sunday Cinema Club highlights film’s capacity to spark curiosity, foster dialogue and connect audiences across generations and cultures.

Taking place at 3:00 pm every Sunday from 5 July to 30 August 2026 at the Photography Gallery in Al Manakh, Sharjah, the programme also marks the latest activation of this recently opened venue as a space for public engagement and learning.

Summer of Wonder: Animated fantasies for children and families
5–19 July 2026

The opening series presents three acclaimed animated films that take audiences on a wondrous journey where transformation and time travel become a vehicle for understanding the self and the world. Featuring Song of the Sea (2014) by Tomm Moore; Sirocco and the Kingdom of Winds (2023) by Benoît Chieux; and Mirai (2018) by Mamoru Hosoda, this family-friendly series shows us how imagination can help navigate emotions or overcome challenges.

Lunar Visions: Sci-Fi Films in the Space Age
26 July–9 August 2026

This three-film series demonstrates how international filmmakers expanded the possibilities of cinema in their respective eras to imagine the moon long before humanity set foot on its surface. Spanning three decades of innovation, the films include A Cosmic Voyage (1936), Vassili Zouravlev’s pioneering Soviet-era film renowned for its ambitious depiction of lunar travel; the Egyptian cult classic Journey to the Moon (Rihla Ila Alqamar) by Hamada Abdel Wahab (1959); and Stanley Kubrick’s groundbreaking masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968).

Uprooted Realities: Identity in Postcolonial Arab Cinema
16–30 August 2026

Delving into notions of belonging and displacement, this final series examines how camera composition and mise-en-scène articulate complex personal experiences. The series features West Beirut (1998) by Ziad Doueiri, a coming-of-age story set during the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War; Omar Gatlato (1977) by Merzak Allouache, a celebrated portrait of post-independence Algeria; and The Time That Remains (2009) by Elia Suleiman, a semi-autobiographical reflection on Palestinian history and everyday life.

All screenings are free and open to the public. Seating is limited and registration is recommended.