On the fifth day of the Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth (SIFF) 2019, Emirati film director and actor Nawaf Al Janahi, took a group of young cinema enthusiasts (17 years and above) on an exciting journey of the history of the UAE’s film movement. At a workshop titled ‘Emirati Cinema Facts’, he unveiled several interesting facts about the birth and development of Emirati cinema.

Al Janahi has been on a mission to raise the profile of Emirati cinema across the nation with his Emirati Cinema Campaign project since 2014. The accomplished director of “Sea Shadow”, told his young audience that the UAE has nurtured a vibrant environment for upcoming local filmmakers giving the example of film competitions he used to partake in his school.

“Many do not know about the UAE cinema movement”, he said emphasising the fact that the strength of a local cinema culture is in the efforts and activities that take place on ground – not only reflected in its global representation.

Sharing a couple of interersting cinema facts, he said: “The first Emirati feature film locally-made was released in 1989. Titled ‘Aber Sabeel’ it was directed by Ali Al Abdool. In 2005, the first Emirati feature film
made a theatrical debut in the UAE was ‘A Dream’, directed by Hani Al Shaibani”.

“Since 2010, the UAE has been largest cinema market in the Arab world”, he added saying there are 400 cinema screens in the UAE.

Basics of photography –  SIFF Sponsor Third Eye

Trainer Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Owner and Founder of Third Eye, offered a comprehensive presentation on the basics of photography at another youth-focused workshop on Thursday. He began his lesson by detailing parts of the camera and explained each one’s functionality.

“One image is a composite of numerous elements”, he said emphasising that a smart photographer will have that ‘third eye’ to identify and integrate those into an award-winning image. He said image composition was the leading factor in determining the final aesthetic of an image, and demonstrated the various angles, lighting and colour variations that are all essential for good photography.

Going into the technicals, Suwaidi drew a comparison between mirrorless and DSLR cameras and also demonstrated the advantages and disadvantages of both. He asserted that the former type is quickly gaining in popularity with modern-day photographers due to their light weight, ease of carriage, and multiple high-end functionalities.

SIFF 2019 was organised by FUNN – Sharjah Media Arts for Youth & Children, and concludes today (Friday). The six-day film festival screened 132 films from 39 countries and hosted an array of workshops to nurture the creative and technical talents of children and youth with a knack for filmmaking and other media arts.