FUNN, a Sharjah-based foundation dedicated to promoting media arts for and among children and youth in the U.A.E., has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Sharjah Media Centre to serve as a strategic media partner for the forthcoming Sharjah International Children's Film Festival, SICFF, which will take place from October 19th - 24th.
Under the terms of the MoU, SMC will set up a temporary onsite media centre to host filmmakers, directors of international film festivals and journalists.
The signing ceremony took place at the Sharjah Media Centre’s headquarters in the presence of Sheikha Jawaher bint Abdullah Al Qasimi, Director of FUNN, and Osama Samra, Director of the Sharjah Media Centre, who signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations. The partnership reflects both parties’ commitment to promote media literacy among children and young adults and encourage their creativity.
Through the agreement, both parties seek to strengthen their ties and establish an integrated collaboration in the media field to deliver optimal services during SICFF.
Speaking on the occasion, Sheikha Jawaher bint Abdullah Al Qasimi said, "We are pleased to benefit from SMC’s experience in boosting the presence of Sharjah International Children’s Film Festival in local, regional, and international media and hosting film industry experts, whose presence will add value to the festival, which is evolving as one of the major children’s film festivals in the region. We are looking forward to more successes that will contribute to further support and develop the festival." Osama Samra said, "The Sharjah International Children’s Film Festival is a unique concept for the U.A.E. and region. The festival was launched under the patronage of the wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, with the aim to teach children media arts that develop their creative and mental abilities and enable them to engage in a new media experience from an early age." He clarified that the role SMC would play in the festival as a strategic media partner would be to boost international media coverage of outstanding film productions and to connect talented filmmakers with journalists to promote the role of filmmaking.
He added, "We are committed to extending our best support to the festival through the provision of a high-tech media centre for participating reporters to help them cover the event. We will provide an ideal work environment for media professionals throughout the festival. We will also provide technical support and equipment that will support journalists’ performance." SMC will additionally host directors of international children’s film festivals, filmmakers and journalists dedicated to art and filmmaking to cover the festival. This step will help promote the festival and attract more talents.
According to the MoU, both parties will distribute the festival’s latest news to audio-visual and print media on a daily basis, and will coordinate with broadcasters with regard to TV coverage. SMC will offer the necessary support through social media and will share via numerous channels latest updates on the festival.
In addition to the MoU with FUNN, SMC has signed a number of agreements with government departments in Sharjah to help draw international attention to the successive initiatives and activities being hosted in the emirate and convey their message to an international audience.
SMC is working in accordance with programmes that are designed to foster activities that help establish Sharjah’s status as a thriving media and cultural centre in the region.
SICFF was launched by FUNN, an organisation established by the Sharjah Government to promote media art among children and young adults in Sharjah and the U.A.E.. The festival serves as a communication network between international films and the various media. It allows children and young adults to know more about world cultures, promote peace and expression of various subjects through filmmaking.