Sheikha Jawaher Bint Abdullah Al Qasimi.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth (MCY) has signed a partnership agreement with FUNN, the Sharjah-based organisation dedicated to promoting and supporting media arts learning among children and youth, to jointly establish a framework for coordination between both parties in organising the Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth (SIFF) for a period of five years.

The MoU is aimed at supporting the local filmmaking sector, help nurture young talents and develop their capabilities, and promote the production of good films.

The agreement stipulates that the Ministry will take on the responsibility of choosing members of the jury committees, assist in inviting filmmakers and other industry professionals, and suggest Emirati filmmakers and experts for SIFF’s workshops and panel discussions.

For the upcoming edition of SIFF, MCY will be proposing a list of Korean films to be screened as a special celebration of Korean cinema, and recommend Korean directors who will be invited to be part of SIFF’s programme.

Commenting on the new partnership, Sheikha Jawaher Bint Abdullah Al Qasimi, Director of FUNN and SIFF said: “Good cinema inspires, entertains and educates the viewer. It is a powerful medium for fostering noble habits in young generations and motivates them to create, ask questions, share their vision and address societal issues."

"The new partnership with the UAE’s Ministry of Culture and Youth builds on FUNN’s previous work and furthers our goals and strategies to reach a wider segment of local and regional communities. It will also aid us in instilling a love for good cinema among young generations, as envisioned by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. Through this partnership, we are looking forward to enhancing and advancing the youth’s creative and filmmaking skills, and thereby, benefit the regional film industry.”

Mubarak Al Nakhi.

For his part, Mubarak Al Nakhi, Undersecretary at Ministry of Culture and Youth, said: "This partnership is in line with the Ministry's strategy to empower the film industry, and nurture a new generation of content creators who will take our history and culture to audiences worldwide. Cinema is a key segment of the global creative industry and we seek to empower it to reach its fullest potential via local and global collaborations."

"Our partnership with FUNN stems from our conviction that cinema is vital for building cultural bridges around the world, for stimulating the youth’s creativity, and inspiring them to design content that is true to their culture and to good values," he concluded.