Sharjah International Film Festival 2026: 71 Films, Green Carpet Screenings & Italy as Guest of Honour
Young movie lovers have a major cultural event to add to their October calendar as the Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth (SIFF) returns from 25 October to 1 November 2026.
Now in its 13th edition, the eight-day festival will bring 71 films from 38 countries to Sharjah, alongside Green Carpet screenings, competitions and programmes designed to get children and teenagers more involved in filmmaking.
Events will take place across City Centre Al Zahia and House of Wisdom, with Italy joining SIFF 2026 as its Guest of Honour.
For families looking for cultural things to do in Sharjah – or young people already interested in film, animation and storytelling – this year’s programme offers much more than simply watching movies.
71 Films From 38 Countries Are Coming to Sharjah
The scale of SIFF has grown considerably.
Organisers received 1,802 film submissions from 72 countries for the 2026 edition, with 71 films from 38 countries making the official selection. A further eight films will screen outside the competition.
Egypt, France, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and India are among the countries with the highest number of selected films.
The festival is also welcoming several newcomers, with Brunei, Burkina Faso and Mauritania participating for the first time.
For young audiences, that international mix creates an opportunity to discover stories and perspectives from cultures they may rarely encounter through mainstream cinema.
Italy Is SIFF 2026’s Guest of Honour
One country will have an especially prominent role this year.
Italy has been selected as Guest of Honour for SIFF 2026, celebrating the country’s long cinematic and artistic heritage.
Its participation will introduce young audiences to Italian approaches to filmmaking and storytelling while encouraging greater cultural and creative exchange between filmmakers and emerging talent in Italy and the UAE.
The Italian programme will also extend to one of the festival’s major Green Carpet screenings.
Three Green Carpet Screenings to Watch
SIFF’s Green Carpet screenings return with three international films exploring themes including adventure, friendship, belonging and human connection.
The programme begins on 29 October with the Thai film “Gohan.”
On 30 October, Italy takes the spotlight with “Forever With You.”
The final Green Carpet screening takes place on 31 October with “Monster Mia,” an animated film from Austria and Germany.
The three screenings provide an easy starting point for families who want to experience some of the festival’s headline films without navigating the entire programme.
Young Film Fans Can Become Junior Jurors
One of the more interesting parts of SIFF is how it allows young people to participate in the filmmaking conversation rather than only attend as an audience.
Through the Junior Jurors Programme, aspiring film enthusiasts between 12 and 20 years old can learn how professional film judging works.
Interactive sessions will introduce participants to different genres, film analysis, selection processes and the responsibilities involved in judging a competition.
They will then apply those skills during the festival by evaluating entries in the Child and Youth-Made Film Competition and helping select the winning film.
For teenagers interested in filmmaking, media, storytelling or potentially pursuing a career in the creative industries, the programme offers a rare behind-the-scenes perspective on how film festivals work.
SIFF Is Building a Youth Film Community Beyond the Festival
The festival is also bringing back former Young Jury participants through its Festival Ambassadors Programme.
The idea is to create a growing community of young people interested in cinema, with ambassadors connecting with their peers, encouraging participation and contributing ideas to future youth-focused programmes.
It reflects a broader theme running through SIFF 2026: encouraging children and young adults not only to consume films but to think critically about them and eventually create stories of their own.
An October Cultural Event for Families in Sharjah
With 71 films, filmmakers and industry professionals arriving from around the world, SIFF has developed into much more than a children’s film screening programme.
It provides families with an accessible introduction to international cinema while giving aspiring young filmmakers opportunities to learn about storytelling, criticism and the wider film industry.
And with the festival taking place across eight days from 25 October to 1 November, there is plenty of time to work a screening or festival activity into an October family day out in Sharjah.
Sharjah International Film Festival 2026 – Quick Details
Event: 13th Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth (SIFF)
Dates: 25 October – 1 November 2026
Locations: City Centre Al Zahia and House of Wisdom, Sharjah
Official Selection: 71 films from 38 countries
Additional Films: Eight films screening out of competition
Guest of Honour: Italy
Green Carpet – Gohan: 29 October
Green Carpet – Forever With You: 30 October
Green Carpet – Monster Mia: 31 October
Junior Jurors Programme: Ages 12-20
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