Sharjah Art Foundation launches new Industry Hub programme

sharjah — Sharjah Art Foundation will be showcasing a new programme, the SFP Industry Hub, as part of its annual film festival, Sharjah Film Platform (SFP) in its third edition, scheduled from November 14 to 21. The SFP Industry Hub features four main initiatives: Script Lab, Pre-Production Strategies Course, Virtual Film Distribution Market and Pitching Forum.

“Sharjah Film Platform is an annual festival that brings the global film industry together to celebrate and encourage the work of filmmakers in the UAE and abroad,” said Hoor Al Qasimi, director of the Sharjah Art Foundation. “It’s great to see it grow and launch new initiatives that continue our mission of supporting film production locally and around the world. We are delighted to partner with Sharjah Media City [Shams] to offer filmmakers new opportunities to develop current and future projects.”

An immersive three-week online scriptwriting course, Script Lab helps participants take their scripts to the next level while the online Pre-Production Strategies Course offers participants training on how to prepare for a film shoot prior to production. The Pitching Forum returns for a second year in an expanded format and offers 10 Emirati scriptwriters the opportunity to pitch their scripts to win Dh100,000 for the production of a feature film. The Virtual Film Distribution Market is a new online initiative in which this year’s SFP filmmakers can receive distribution support for their films.

Dr Khalid Omar Al Midfa, chairman of Sharjah Media City, said: “Shams offers a variety of opportunities to filmmakers to work on creative projects of their preference. Since its inception, Shams has always encouraged all kinds of ingenious talents and embraced arts and culture, providing the required resources to help talented individuals embark on their creative journey. We feel honoured to be part of this programme and give participants an opportunity to be a part of the film and creative industry.”