Sharjah Art Foundation launches first takes for young filmmakers

November 21, 2025 / 8:40 PM

Sharjah 24: 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.

Roundtable discussion with filmmakers

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.

Fostering dialogue and collaboration

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.

Collaboration with leading universities

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.