Sharjah Art Foundation is pleased to announce the winners of the inaugural Sharjah Film Platform Feature Fund.

Following a rigorous review process, the grant has been awarded to Annemarie Jacir for Palestine 36 (2025) and Mohamad W. Ali for his under-production film Colored Sweets (2026).

Both of these films were selected for their artistic strength, powerful storytelling and relevance to urgent contemporary themes. The jury unanimously agreed to divide the award equally between Jacir and Ali, recognising the distinct contribution of their individual films to Arab, Asian and international cinema. Palestine 36 and Colored Sweets will be presented at the upcoming editions of Sharjah Film Platform, the Foundation’s annual film festival. 

Established in 2024, the 500,000 AED Sharjah Film Platform Feature Fund supports UAE-based filmmakers in producing and distributing feature-length films.

The winning projects

Palestine’s official submission for the 2025 Academy Awards, Palestine 36 is a period drama. The film follows Yusuf, a young man navigating the political unrest on the streets of Jerusalem as well as Jaffa and Al Basma during the 1936 revolt against colonial rule, one of the largest uprisings against the British Empire. The film, Jacir’s most ambitious project to date, features Hiam Abbass, Saleh Bakri, Yasmine Al Massri and Jeremy Irons. Palestine 36 premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival on 5 September 2025.

Mohamad W. Ali makes his feature debut with Colored Sweets, a tender tale set in Kashmir during the winter of 1995. The story follows two siblings living in a remote village who dream of tasting colourful Eid sweets. Their simple yet profound journey becomes a reflection on childhood, poverty and resilience in the shadow of conflict. Scheduled for release in late 2026, the film continues Ali’s exploration of themes of memory and survival. Born in Syria and educated in India and South Korea, Ali has directed seven short fiction films.

The Jury 

The Feature Fund jury was composed of Sohail Dahdal (award-winning filmmaker and professor of media, American University of Sharjah), Suha Arraf (award-winning filmmaker and script doctor), Talal Afifi (founder of the Sudan Film Factory and President of the Sudan Independent Film Festival) and Nawar Al Qassimi (Vice President, Sharjah Art Foundation).

Jury Statement 

Both films present urgent and resonant stories that promise to make a lasting impact on Arab, Asian and global cinema. They distinguished themselves through their confrontation of questions central to our times and the sharp, captivating artistic visions of their directors. We believe it is especially important to support Annemarie Jacir’s Palestine 36 as it is a film that revives buried memory and restores the prerogative of storytelling to its rightful owners, particularly in a time of censorship and propaganda against the Palestinian people. Colored Sweets, Mohamad W. Ali’s debut feature tells a poignant story of children’s hope and joy amid strife, carrying a universal resonance. The filmed sequences are breathtaking, capturing stunning natural landscapes with poetic cinematography that reflects the director’s sensitivity, passion and genuine love for cinema. We have full confidence in Ali’s exceptional talent and ability to deliver a powerful and meaningful cinematic work.