The upcoming ninth edition of the Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth (SIFF) will celebrate the beauty and power of a wide range of unique and delightful films from 43 countries, including the UAE, when it opens at the Al Jawaher Reception & Convention Centre from October 10 – 15, 2022.

SIFF, organized by FUNN, the Sharjah-based entity that promotes media arts learning among children and youth, has announced that the compelling and imaginative stories from France, the United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia, have topped the official selection list of 100 films for the 2022 edition.

SIFF 2022, which returns to the physical format this year after enthralling young audiences virtually for two years, has received a total of 1,717 film submissions from 89 countries with France, the USA, and UAE topping the charts for the highest number of submissions.

Held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Supreme Council for Family Affairs (SCFA), SIFF 2022 will celebrate the diversity of cinema from around the world across seven categories.

Of the 100 movies chosen for screening at the ninth edition this year, animations dominate with 29 films. Feature films have more than doubled from last year with 17 movies making the cut for the 2022 edition while there are 16 student films dominated by entries from France.

With 12 films each, the UK leads in the child and youth-made category while films from Saudi Arabia make up the bulk of the short films from the GCC. Seven documentaries and 7 international short films make up the final cohort of the official selection for the year.

Announcing the official selection of films, Sheikha Jawaher Bint Abdullah Al Qasimi, Director of FUNN and SIFF, said: “As the 9th Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth returns to its physical format, the exciting range of films being screened this year will spark the curiosity of young audiences and offer unique cultural perspectives from around the world. Our curated selection of 100 films celebrates diverse global voices through the universal lens of childhood.”

She added: “Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and the support of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of the Ruler of Sharjah, FUNN aims to present quality cinema to the younger generation to boost their creative pursuits. SIFF 2022 is also an incredible platform for children and youth to connect with films and filmmakers from across the globe through our extensive and vibrant programming agenda.”