Sharjah Art Foundation’s annual celebration of independent cinema—Sharjah Film Platform—highlights experimental films by young and emerging filmmakers in the UAE.
The new segment, titled First Takes, was developed in collaboration with local universities. The programme features 12 short films by students and recent graduates, which will be screened at Mirage City Cinema, Al Mureijah Square, Sharjah on 21 November 2025.
The screenings will be preceded by a roundtable discussion bringing together participating filmmakers who will share their experiences and reflect on the opportunities and challenges facing young creatives in the UAE.
By platforming new voices, First Takes fosters dialogue among aspiring filmmakers, while strengthening ties between students, academics and the wider film community. Through this initiative, Sharjah Film Platform continues to serve as a vital meeting point for the local film scene supporting the growth of regional cinema and nurturing a new generation of storytellers.
First Takes is organised by Sharjah Art Foundation in collaboration with American University of Sharjah (AUS); New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD); University of Sharjah (UoS); and Zayed University (ZU).
The participating filmmakers represent leading universities across the UAE, including American University of Sharjah (Ahmad Al Ariqi, Lojeen Odeh, Saud Mubarak, Turki Al Mutairi and Wenxuan Sui); New York University Abu Dhabi (Al Reem Beshr, Jam Moreno, João Gabriel Ribeiro and Liam McCarthy); University of Sharjah (Heba Maher, Niza Anfas, Sara Nazzal, Shaima Shawky, Zeena Dehelia and Zena Khanfar); and Zayed University (Hind Alamadi and Mariam Alshehhi).
The students were nominated by their professors: Bentley Brown and Mohammed Mamdouh from AUS; Manuel F. Contreras and Scandar Copti from NYUAD; Jairo Alfonso Lugo–Ocando, Muhammad Asad Iqbal, Nadia Mehdi Alhasani, Shihab Abdalsalam Edriss and Tor Hanstorten Seidel from UoS; and Peter Chanthanakone from ZU.
The film festival’s eighth edition runs until 23 November 2025 with an exciting lineup of films, talks and artist development programmes.
Sharjah Film Platform (SFP) is an annual festival of independent cinema and experimental filmmaking where audiences can discover new approaches to film and art. The 10-day event, including a range of regional and international films, talks by filmmakers and industry professionals, workshops and gatherings, is centred around Mirage City Cinema, the open-air theatre in Sharjah’s historical quarter.
Organised by Sharjah Art Foundation, SFP foregrounds recent cinematic achievements by international filmmakers and artists, noteworthy classics from around the region as well as experimental films that challenge the idea of what film practice is today.
Sharjah Art Foundation is an advocate, catalyst and producer of contemporary art within the Emirate of Sharjah and the surrounding region, in dialogue with the international arts community. The Foundation advances an experimental and wide-ranging programmatic model that supports the production and presentation of contemporary art, preserves and celebrates the distinct culture of the region and encourages a shared understanding of the transformational role of art. The Foundation’s core initiatives include the long-running Sharjah Biennial, featuring contemporary artists from around the world; the annual March Meeting, a convening of international arts professionals and artists; grants and residencies for artists, curators and cultural producers; ambitious and experimental commissions and a range of travelling exhibitions and scholarly publications.
Established in 2009 to expand programmes beyond the Sharjah Biennial, which launched in 1993, the Foundation is a critical resource for artists and cultural organisations in the Gulf and a conduit for local, regional and international developments in contemporary art. The Foundation’s deep commitment to developing and sustaining the cultural life and heritage of Sharjah is reflected through year-round exhibitions, performances, screenings and educational programmes in the city of Sharjah and across the Emirate, often hosted in historic buildings that have been repurposed as cultural and community centres. A growing collection reflects the Foundation’s support of contemporary artists in the realisation of new work and its recognition of the contributions made by pioneering modern artists from the region and around the world.
Sharjah Art Foundation is a legally independent public body established by Emiri Decree and supported by government funding, grants from national and international nonprofits and cultural organisations, corporate sponsors and individual patrons. Hoor Al Qasimi serves as President and Director. All exhibitions are free and open to the public.
American University of Sharjah (AUS) was founded in 1997 by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Sharjah. Inspired by his vision, AUS was established as a leading educational institution dedicated to advancing society through academic excellence, research, innovation and meaningful collaboration with industry and culture.
Today, under the leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, AUS is further enhancing its position regionally and globally by driving innovative research, expanding academic programs and strengthening global partnerships.
Ranked consistently among the top 3 percent of universities in the Arab region (QS Arab Region University Rankings, 2026), AUS is also recognized globally, ranking among the top 18 percent of ranked universities in the world (QS World University Rankings, 2026).
AUS offers 33 undergraduate majors, 48 minors, 21 master’s programs and eight PhD programs through four academic units: the College of Architecture, Art and Design; College of Arts and Sciences; College of Engineering; and School of Business Administration.
The university is licensed and its degree programs are accredited by the Commission for Academic Accreditation of the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, with additional international accreditations from respected bodies including ABET, AACSB and NAAB.
Home to students from over 100 nationalities, AUS provides a dynamic and inclusive learning environment where students are empowered to become impactful leaders, innovators and changemakers.
AUS delivers an exceptional educational experience, combining rigorous academic standards with rich cultural diversity and practical, real-world applications, with world-class facilities, renowned faculty and a dynamic academic community.
NYU Abu Dhabi is the first comprehensive liberal arts and research campus in the Middle East to be operated abroad by a major American research university. Times Higher Education ranks NYU among the top 31 universities in the world, making NYU Abu Dhabi the highest globally ranked university in the UAE. NYU Abu Dhabi has integrated a highly selective undergraduate curriculum across the disciplines with a world center for advanced research and scholarship. The university enables its students in the sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities, and arts to succeed in an increasingly interdependent world and advance cooperation and progress on humanity’s shared challenges. NYU Abu Dhabi’s high-achieving students have come from over 120 countries and speak over 100 languages. Together, NYU's campuses in New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai form the backbone of a unique global university, giving faculty and students opportunities to experience varied learning environments and immersion in other cultures at one or more of the numerous study-abroad sites NYU maintains on six continents.
Zayed University, the UAE’s flagship higher education institution, was established in 1998 and proudly bears the name of the Founder of the Nation – the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. In the spirit of Sheikh Zayed, the University is a pioneer and innovator in the field of education and research. The University currently caters to many Emirati and international students across its full range of undergraduate and postgraduate offerings.
Led by Her Excellency Shamma Bint Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Community Empowerment and Chairperson of the Zayed University Board of Trustees, the University proudly serves the needs of the Nation and contributes to the UAE’s economic, social and cultural progress from its state-of-the-art campuses in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Through research, scholarship, creative activities and outreach, Zayed University provides educational leadership, expands opportunity, and enriches the knowledge of local, regional, and global communities.
The University of Sharjah (UOS) is a private non-profit national university established in 1997 founded by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohamed Al-Qassimi, Member of the Federal Supreme Council of United Arab Emirates. In terms of number of degrees, number of colleges, and comprehensiveness of academic programs, it is one of the largest universities in the UAE with more than 17,000 students from all over the world.
UOS provides first-class education to the highest international standards with programs accredited both in the UAE and internationally, by organizations based in locations including the US, Europe and the UK. It is a truly international university: teaching staff, as well as students, come from around the world including the UAE, Arab countries, the US, UK, and Europe.
Sharjah is the third largest of the seven United Arab Emirates, and the only one bridging the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Reflecting the deep commitment to the arts, architectural preservation and cultural education embraced by its ruler, Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Sharjah is home to more than 20 museums and has long been known as the cultural hub of the United Arab Emirates. It was named UNESCO's Arab Capital of Culture for 1998 and the UNESCO World Book Capital for 2019.
Alyazeyah Al Marri
alyazeyah@sharjahart.org
+971 (0)6 5444113
