Sharjah: The Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth (SIFF 2021) resumed on Sunday, October 10th, with its first-ever totally virtual edition and the Middle East premiere of Kim Jin-South Yu’s Korean movie “Bori.” SIFF will run till Friday, October 15th, 2021.
Organized by FUNN – Sharjah Media Arts for Youth and Children under the subject “Think Fil,” it is open to audiences from across the world who can register at www.siff.ae to see the films and participate in workshops and panel discussions.
Sheikha Jawaher bint Abdullah Al Qasimi, Director of FUNN and SIFF, remarked during her keynote presentation at the opening ceremony that the film festival has evolved into a unique and exclusive venue for new generations to explore and enhance their connection with media arts.
Nahla Al Fahad, an Emirati director; Abed Fahed, a Syrian actor; Yahya Mahayni, a Syrian actor and writer whose moving performance in the Oscar-nominated film “The Man Who Sold His Skin” ; and a number of junior jurors also spoke at the ceremony. Nahla Al Fahad thanked the Emirate of Sharjah for providing opportunity for children and youngsters to participate in cultural and arts festivals.
SIFF 2021 launched off with Middle East premiere of Bori, a South Korean film. The beautiful film, directed by Kim Jin-Yu, told the story of Bori, who lives with her parents and younger brother, and is the only member of an otherwise deaf and quiet household who can speak and hear, and who continually prays to become deaf as well. The story revolves around a little girl’s attempt to blend in with her own family.
More than 80 films from 38 nations will be screened, including six global premieres, 34 Middle East and four Gulf Cooperation Council debuts, and four films that will be screened for the first time in the UAE. SIFF will also hold 34 workshops and five panel discussions in English and Arabic on various elements of filmmaking, delivered by a number of notable filmmakers.
