SIFF names jury to judge films in six categories

SHARJAH: The Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth (SIFF) 2022 has announced a 16-member jury comprising acclaimed directors, filmmakers, actors and academics to judge films in six categories for the much-awaited ninth edition of the festival.

SIFF, organised by FUNN, the Sharjah-based entity that promotes media arts learning among children and youth, will run between Oct.10-15, under the theme “Think Film” at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre, Sharjah.

The jury of the ninth edition hails from 11 countries including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Iraq, Syria, USA, Canada, Belgium, Germany, Kenya, and the UAE. They will evaluate films in six categories: Student Film, GCC Short Film, International Short Film, Animation Film, Documentary Film, and Feature Film. 25 of the “Junior Jurors” will evaluate the Best Child and Youth-made Film.

STUDENT FILM CATEGORY: The panel for this category includes Amal Al Duwaila, Emirati communication and media specialist; Nadia Rahman, Chair and Associate Professor, Zayed University; and Siona Vidakovic, director, writer, and animator.

GCC Short Film category: The entries in this category will be evaluated by Heba Hamada, award-winning Kuwaiti film director and scriptwriter, Buthaina Alraisi, Omani actress, and Hani Al Shaibani, award-winning Emirati filmmaker and Art Director of Al Ain Film Festival, with more than 10 short films and six feature films to his credit.

International Short Film category: Jurors for this category comprise Masoud Amralla, one of the region’s foremost experts on Arab cinema and previously the Artistic Director of the UAE Cultural Foundation and the founder of the Emirates Film Competition, and Yasir Alyasiri, award-winning Emirati director, producer, and writer.

Animation Film category: Sara Oulddaddah, Animation & Manga Department Manager, Manga Productions, Saudi Arabia, will be a juror in the Animation Film category alongside Mariam Alserkal, Emirati filmmaker, producer, and founder of the boutique production company “Triplets on set,” and Laurie Gordon, Festival director of Montreal International Animation Film Festival - ANIMAZE.

Documentary Film category: Jurors in this category include Ahmed Eldin, a Kuwaiti Emmynominated journalist, producer and actor whose award-winning documentaries on Al Jazeera English focused on social justice and human rights.

Feature Film category: To judge films in this category, Emirati filmmaker Nawaf Al Janahi, whose debut film, “The Circle,” marked a turning point in Emirati and Gulf cinema, and Aida Al-hassani, co-founder of Verein International Arab Film Festival Zurich.