The Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth has formed a new partnership with the UAE’s National Media Authority. The deal aims to support young filmmakers and help them enter the film industry. It also seeks to make film production and screening easier for emerging talent.
The agreement was signed on Monday, October 26, during the opening day of the festival’s 13th edition. The two sides are the National Media Authority and FANN, the Sharjah-based media discovery platform that runs the festival. FANN takes its name from the Arabic word for art.
Under the agreement, the National Media Authority will become an official supporting partner of the festival. The two groups will also work together on training, technical support and film screening procedures. Their shared goal is to help young creators develop their work and reach wider audiences.
The partnership comes as the festival looks beyond film screenings and workshops. Organizers want to address the real challenges that young filmmakers face when they try to enter the industry. These challenges can include permits, access to funding, professional contacts and support for turning an idea into a finished film.
Sheikha Jawaher bint Abdullah Al Qasimi, director of the festival, said the agreement was an important step in bringing national efforts together to support filmmaking. She said the partnership would help emerging filmmakers turn their ideas and views into creative work.
Al Qasimi has stressed that learning how to make a film is only one part of a young creator’s journey. New filmmakers also need a clear path into the industry. They need chances to meet producers, find supporters and secure the resources needed to make their projects.
The new agreement aims to address some of these needs. The National Media Authority will help the festival manage permits required to screen selected films. Where needed, the authority will coordinate with embassies, consulates, cultural groups and government bodies.
Festival staff will also receive training on the authority’s electronic services. Technical support will help teams understand the required procedures and manage them more smoothly. These steps are expected to reduce delays and make it easier to organize film screenings.
The agreement also allows representatives of the National Media Authority to take part in festival juries and film evaluations. The two organizations will work together on media and communication activities linked to the event.
The partnership comes during a period of change in the UAE’s media sector. The National Media Authority was established by federal decree in December 2025. It took over duties previously handled by the UAE Media Council, the National Media Office and Emirates News Agency.
The new authority brings several media functions under one federal body. Its work includes media policy, laws, licensing and content standards. It also has a role in supporting the growth of the country’s media industry.
Mohammed Saeed Al Shehhi, secretary-general of the National Media Authority, said support for content made for children and young people was an important part of the authority’s strategy. He said the aim was to help build a strong and lasting national media sector that could compete internationally.
For FANN, the deal adds federal support to a wider effort to help young filmmakers. The festival has expanded its Industry Hub and pitching program to connect creators with producers, supporters and funders. These links can help filmmakers move from early ideas to financing and production.
A film may begin with a simple idea, but making it requires time, skills and money. Young creators may struggle to find people who can guide them through the process. By creating more links between filmmakers and industry professionals, the festival hopes to give participants better chances to develop their projects.
The partnership also reflects a wider effort to support local creative talent. Training and technical guidance can help young filmmakers understand how the industry works. Better access to screening permits can also help them show their work to audiences.
The Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth runs until November 1. This year’s program includes 71 films from 38 countries. The selection brings together stories and ideas from different cultures and gives young audiences a chance to explore films from around the world.
The agreement marks another step in the festival’s effort to build a stronger future for young filmmakers. By joining forces with the National Media Authority, FANN aims to make the path from learning to professional filmmaking clearer and more practical.
The long-term impact will depend on how the two organizations put their plans into action. However, the partnership sets out a framework for training, technical help and closer cooperation. For young filmmakers in the UAE and beyond, it could offer more ways to develop their skills and bring their stories to the screen.
