Sharjah International Film Festival 2026 Concludes with Over 50,000 Visitors: Full List of Award Winners
The 13th Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth (SIFF) concluded on 1 November 2026, welcoming more than 50,000 visitors, students and participants. The festival celebrated international cinema, emerging filmmakers and young creative talent, with Atlas of the Universe winning Best Feature Film and Gohanreceiving the festival’s first-ever Audience Award.
Organised by FANN – Media Discovery Platform, the festival concluded with an awards ceremony at Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park, recognising outstanding films across feature, documentary, animation and short-film categories.
Sharjah International Film Festival 2026: Award Winners
The closing ceremony celebrated filmmakers from around the world, with the following films receiving awards:
| Award Category | Winning Film | Director |
|---|---|---|
| Best Feature Film | Atlas of the Universe | Paul Negoescu |
| Best Animated Feature Film | My Grandfather Is a Nihonjin | Celia Catunda |
| Best Short Animated Film | The Great Dreamscape | Rémi Durin |
| Best Arab Short Film | Oug | Abdulrahman Al Madani |
| Best International Short Film | Little Big Dreams | Shweta Parakh and Rakesh E. Nair |
| Best Documentary Film | The Path of Memory, Between the Land of Jasmine and Basil | Areej Alghamdi |
| Best Child and Youth-Made Film | The Monster | Sohee Lee |
| Best Student Short Film | Mabrouk Aleiko | Mariam Janini |
| Best Student Short Animated Film | Fellow | Martha Rivière, Laura Darras, Théo Bergougnoux, Gaspard Keller de Schleitheim, Johanne Coppier and Romane Casha |
| First-Ever Audience Award | Gohan | – |
Special Mentions were also awarded to Meshal Althobaiti for his performance in the documentary Marjouj Hazari, and to Chayanop Boonprakob, Baz Poonpiriya and Aat Hemaweadee for their work on Gohan.
71 Films from 38 Countries
The 2026 edition showcased 71 competition films from 38 countries, alongside eight additional screenings.
The festival received 1,802 submissions from 72 countries, reflecting growing international interest in children’s and youth cinema.
Brunei, Burkina Faso and Mauritania participated for the first time, while Italy was celebrated as the festival’s Guest of Honour.
The Green Carpet programme featured three international films: Gohan, Forever With You and Monster Mia, exploring themes of friendship, adventure and belonging.
Supporting the Next Generation of Filmmakers
Beyond screenings, SIFF offered workshops, discussions and educational programmes designed to encourage young people to explore filmmaking.
The second Global Children and Youth Film Congress, held at House of Wisdom, brought together international filmmakers and industry experts to discuss the future of youth cinema, emerging technologies and challenges facing film production.
The Junior Jurors Programme also gave participants aged 12-20 an opportunity to develop film criticism and evaluation skills.
Huda Al Harmoodi, Deputy Director of FANN, highlighted the festival’s role in providing young filmmakers with opportunities to learn, exchange ideas and develop their creative abilities.
A Successful 13th Edition for Sharjah’s Film Community
With more than 50,000 attendees and participation from filmmakers across the world, SIFF 2026 reinforced Sharjah’s position as a destination for cultural exchange and youth-focused creative development.
The festival continues to provide a platform for emerging filmmakers while introducing younger audiences to diverse stories and international cinema.
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