Thai Cinema Takes Centre Stage at Sharjah’s Festival for Young Filmmakers

The Middle East premiere of 'Gohan' inaugurates the Green Carpet screenings at the 13th Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth, whilst masterclasses from industry specialists invite young creatives to explore the art and craft of filmmaking.

The auditorium filled to capacity as the lights dimmed for the Middle East premiere of the Thai film ‘Gohan’, marking the opening of the Green Carpet screenings at the 13th Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth. The screening, held at VOX Cinemas in City Centre Al Zahia, drew an audience so engaged that every ticket had been claimed, a testament to the film’s resonance with viewers of all ages.

Running alongside the festival, as we reported in our coverage of the festival’s opening, the Rubu’ Qarn Foundation for Creating Future Leaders and Innovators orchestrated a series of interactive workshops designed to illuminate the pathways into cinema. These masterclasses brought together trainers and specialists whose combined expertise spanned the technical and creative dimensions of filmmaking, offering young participants a genuine apprenticeship in the medium.

The workshops traversed the full landscape of contemporary film practice. Moamen Al Qara’an guided participants through ‘Film Production Management: Script Breakdown and Daily Shooting Plan’, unveiling the meticulous planning that precedes every frame. Ahmed Fayez explored ‘AI Content Creation’, introducing young minds to how artificial intelligence might serve as a generative tool within the creative process. Mohammed Kabbash led explorations into cinematic product photography, whilst Mohammed Adel examined the preparatory role of artificial intelligence in filmmaking before cameras began rolling.

The technical sat in conversation with the poetic. Aisha Khalifa’s ‘Shadow Cinema’ workshop investigated how light and shadow become instruments of storytelling, an ancient technique reframed for contemporary viewers. Hidaya Ahmed traced cinema’s lineage through ‘Film Strip’, reconnecting participants with the medium’s historical foundations. Trainer Mahra invited young creatives to author their own narratives through ‘Create Your Own Comic Strip’, encouraging them to transform imagination into visual sequence and visual expression.

For those beginning their journey, the ‘Make Your First Film’ workshop distilled filmmaking into its elemental stages, providing a gentle entry point for younger participants. Across these varied sessions, children, teenagers and young people discovered not merely the mechanics of film but the relationship between vision and craft, between technological possibility and human storytelling.

Source: WAM

What it means for Abu Dhabi

The Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth represents the wider cultural flourishing across the emirates, a commitment to nurturing creative talent from within the youngest generation. Through these workshops and screenings, young Emiratis and residents gain access to global cinema and professional mentorship that might otherwise require travel or expense, democratising arts education across the region.

The festival’s embrace of Thai cinema continues a deepening cultural exchange between the UAE and Thailand. As the emirates welcome Thai creative voices and cultural traditions, these connections strengthen the region’s position as a hub where global storytelling traditions converge and where young creators encounter the world through film.