The Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth has officially presented the full lineup for its upcoming 13th edition in the United Arab Emirates. With an expansive catalog assembled from around the globe, this year's slate highlights prominent international festival favorites, notable animation projects, regional debuts, and homegrown Emirati cinema.
From an initial pool of 1,802 submissions sent from 72 nations, organizers selected 71 films representing 38 countries to compete across multiple festival categories, along with an additional eight titles set to screen out of competition. SIFF officially opens on October 25, followed by public and student screenings from October 26 through October 31, and concludes with a closing ceremony on November 1.
Selected Feature Premieres at SIFF 2026
| Film Title | Director(s) | Country / Region of Origin | Premiere Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gohan | Chayanop Bunprakob, Baz Poonpiriya, Atta Hemwadee | Thailand | Middle East Premiere |
| Forever With You | Fabrizio Cattani | Italy | Middle East Premiere |
| Monster Mia | Verena Fels | Austria, Germany | Middle East Premiere |
| Risa and the Wind Phone | Juan Cabral | Argentina | Gulf Premiere |
| 87 Rupees Ink Pen | Ravi Nimbalkar | India | Middle East Premiere |
Green Carpet Premieres and Global Feature Selections
The festival's high-profile Green Carpet program will showcase three major Middle East premieres. Leading the group is the Thai drama "Gohan," co-directed by Chayanop Bunprakob, Atta Hemwadee, and Baz Poonpiriya—who previously helmed the Thai hit "Bad Genius" and the Sundance-awarded "One for the Road." "Gohan" centers on a stray canine living alongside three distinct owners across a span of more than ten years.
Also receiving Middle East premieres in the Green Carpet section are Fabrizio Cattani's Italian live-action film "Forever With You," which follows two friends confronting unexpected wilderness perils during a search for a missing dog, and Verena Fels' Austrian-German animated entry "Monster Mia," tracing a 12-year-old girl who enters an academy populated by monsters.
Other notable international titles making regional debuts elsewhere in the lineup include Argentine filmmaker Juan Cabral's "Risa and the Wind Phone," making its Gulf premiere following Cabral's earlier Tribeca title "Two/One." The Middle East premiere of Indian director Ravi Nimbalkar's "87 Rupees Ink Pen" is also slated for the program.
International Animation and Spotlight on Emirati Cinema
Animation features heavily across this year's programming. Brazilian director Celia Catunda brings "My Grandfather Is a Nihonjin" to Sharjah following its 2025 presentation at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. The lineup also incorporates "Tales From the Magic Garden," a collaborative Czech-French-Slovak-Slovenian stop-motion feature directed by David Súkup, Patrik Pašš, Leon Vidmar, and Jean-Claude Rozec, which similarly screened at Annecy in 2025.
Local talent takes center stage within the competitive shorts category. Emirati filmmaker Abdulrahman Al Madani presents "Oug" in the Arabic short-film competition. The story explores the societal and familial pressures an Emirati married couple faces regarding having children. Prior to its SIFF selection, the short captured the Gulf Capital-ADMAF Visual Arts Award in 2025 and screened at Denmark's Odense International Film Festival.
Educational Screenings, Workshops, and Industry Panels
SIFF organizes its projection calendar to serve both academic groups and general moviegoers. VOX Cinemas at City Centre Al Zahia will host daytime morning screenings dedicated specifically to university and school-aged students, while public audiences can attend standard evening screenings. Emerging creators will also see their work highlighted in designated student competitions and the Child & Youth Made Films category.
Italy serves as the 2026 country of honor, shaping specialized creative sessions including "The Italian Eye – Photography Through Light, Color & Composition" and "Tell a Story in Five Shots – Inspired by Italian Cinema." Broader educational offerings feature workshops covering cinematography, production management, content development, stop-motion, and flipbook techniques.
Professional development remains an integral focus through the festival's Industry Hub and project pitching sessions. Industry veterans will convene for dedicated panels, such as "Film Festivals Decoded: What Happens After You Press Submit?" Moderated by Saudi Cinema Association CEO Hani Al Mulla, the session features insights from Rotterdam Arab Film Festival artistic director Rosh Abdelfattah, Alexandria Short Film Festival leader Mohamed Mahmoud, and Alia Al Azzeh, executive director of alumni affairs and strategic events at American International University Kuwait. A second panel, "How Do I Get My Next Film Made? From Idea to Financing," will address pitching materials, development labs, and co-production strategies as festival activities unfold toward the November 1 finale.
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Source: Variety
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