Sharjah Film Platform to showcase 26 films in ninth edition

The Sharjah Film Platform, organised by the Sharjah Art Foundation, is set to return for its ninth edition, presenting 26 films from various regions around the world. The festival will take place from Friday, 30 October to Sunday, 8 November 2026, at Mirage City Cinema, the open-air theatre in Al Mureijah Square, and at VOX Cinemas in City Centre Al Zahia.

Lineup highlights

The programme includes a mix of regional and international titles, featuring works by both emerging filmmakers and established professionals from the UAE, Palestine, Lebanon, Kazakhstan, Mexico, India, Haiti, and other countries. The festival aims to bring together filmmakers, students, and cinema enthusiasts for networking, idea exchange, and shared passion for film.

The opening film is “Letters” (2025), an anthology of 17 short films by Josef Khallouf that reflects on Lebanon’s recent history. Other notable films include David Bim’s “To the West, in Zapata” (2025), about a Cuban crocodile hunter’s struggle to support his family; Azeem Rajulawalla’s “More Punk Than Punk” (2025), a portrait of a Pakistani punk artist blending personal expression with political issues; “Minimals in a Titanic World” (2025) by Philbert Aimé Mbabazi; “Alia & Meera” (2026) by Hind Saeed Al Basti; and “Ru Ba Ru (Face to Face)” (2025) by Kapil Tanwar. The festival will close with “An Incomplete Drowning” (2026) by Larissa Sansour, a meditation on the fragility of objects and their capacity to hold history.

Grant-supported films and awards

Two newly completed short films supported by the Sharjah Film Platform Short Film Production Grant will premiere at the festival: “I Broke a Vase” (2026) by Asim Abdulaziz, which explores the haunting legacy of a former journalist, and “White Musk” (2026) by Fatima Wardy, which examines tensions when a child is forced to parent their own parent. The grant programme supports independent filmmakers without restrictions on age, region, or genre, and grant-funded films may premiere at future editions of the festival.

Some films under the Competition category will screen in the UAE for the first time, with selected screenings followed by director question-and-answer sessions. These films are eligible for four awards: Documentary Feature, Documentary Short, Fiction Feature, and Fiction Short.

Director in Focus: Abderrahmane Sissako

The festival’s Director in Focus segment highlights the legacy of iconic filmmakers. This edition spotlights Abderrahmane Sissako, whose poetic films explore themes of exile and memory across Africa. Audiences can meet Sissako at a masterclass on Saturday, 7 November, from 6:30pm to 7:30pm at Gallery 4, Al Mureijah Square. The programme includes screenings of “Timbuktu” (2014), “Bamako” (2006), and “Black Tea” (2024), offering insight into different stages of Sissako’s career. The session will be conducted in French with Arabic and English translation.

First Takes and ticketing

Selected films from students and recent graduates will be screened as part of the First Takes segment, developed in collaboration with film and art departments at UAE universities. This segment includes pitching workshops in partnership with Kurzfilm Festival Hamburg, feedback sessions, and peer networking opportunities, designed to nurture young directors.

The festival is supported by VOX Cinemas, Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority, Air Arabia, Alef Group, ARADA, University of Sharjah, NYU Abu Dhabi, Zayed University, American University of Sharjah, and University of the Arts Sharjah. Tickets are priced at Dhs15 and can be booked online.