SICFF is looking set to be a feast of creativity and diversity: 132 submissions, 77 selected, from 32 countries

UAE, Sharjah, 09th September 2013: After a highly enthusiastic call for submissions by the Sharjah International Children's Film Festival (SICFF), the numbers are in: with 132 films submitted, and 77 selected, there will be loads of fun all round for everyone attending SICFF!

Covering short live action, animation, feature, and documentary films for children, as well as films produced by children of all age groups, the sheer diversity of options promises to cater to all tastes. What's more, with 32 nationalities participating, from countries in every continent, the cultural mix will be vast. Ones to watch would definitely be those from the younger generations, who, as SICFF director Jawaher Abdulla Al Qassimi pointed out last month, “this year at the world's most prestigious film awards, the Oscars, we saw the youngest ever nominee in history being nominated for Best Actress: Quvenzhané Wallis, who was only five years old when she auditioned for Beasts of the Southern Wild. Our emirate, our nation, our region is more than capable of producing our own success stories, because our youths are bubbling with fresh ideas – and there is no better incubator of talent than SICFF.”

The films are in and regional talent has proven themselves very noteworthy! We'll be seeing plenty of great young filmmakers showcasing impressive work from October 21, 2013, the launch of the event.

That, right there, is the key—SI CFF, according to its director, Jawaher Abdulla Al Qassimi, “aims to give children the chance to learn about other cultures, other thinkers, other ideas” through one of the most entertaining mediums accessible to us. With films produced by and for children from 32 countries, there's bound to be a lot of engaging screen time: imagine a Japanese kid's understanding of family discipline versus a Zimbabwean's or an American's, then compare that to Arab family structures and the way kids are raised here, and you've only just scratched the surface. “These films will challenge our kids' and our own world views in ways that will be eye-opening,” Jawaher asserts, and she's likely to be very right.

Reaction from participating filmmakers has been very keen. Brazilian Ricardo de Podestá is eager for the festival to start as well: “I've been doing this for a long time, and it's refreshing to see such a gathering of regional creatives in the Middle East being given such immense support at an international scale. I expect the films on show to be a great representation of the immense talents of the young and the great films being made for children across the world.” Hamad Alawar, one of the young fresh talents of the UAE, is very excited about the SICFF's diversity: “I've spent a lot of my time living outside the UAE, mostly due to my education in Miami and now pursuing my PhD in the UK, and so I have seen the very different ways in which things are done; it is great to be able to share that with our children and have other cultures explore the Emirati was through our films as well.”

Among others, the films on show tackle a range of subjects, with prominent examples including Lost and Found and Ostora. An especially interesting feature film will be Stepping on the Flying Grass.

About SICFF: Sharjah International Children's Film Festival (SICFF) is a project of FUNN, established by the Government of Sharjah, under the generous patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi. SICFF is the first children's film festival in the country and region, dedicated to enhance the media literacy of children and young people, foster children's creativity and showcase the very best in filmmaking for, by, and about children and young people.

About FUNN: FUNN (Sharjah Media Arts for Youth & Children) was established by the Government of Sharjah under the generous patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness, the Ruler of Sharjah. It aims to nurture the future generation of creative artists in media and film, grooming them to their full potential and positioning them at the forefront of the global creative arena. FUNN strives to give young talents regional and global exposure through festivals, conferences and workshops, as well as strategic collaborations with diverse partners.