From Gaza to Antarctica: Sharjah’s 7th Film Festival highlights bold, diverse films

The Sharjah Art Foundation has announced the 7th edition of its annual film festival, Sharjah Film Platform, running from November 15 to 24. The festival will feature an eclectic lineup of films from Myanmar, Bhutan, Rwanda, Nigeria, Colombia, Bahrain, and Palestine.

The event will showcase a mix of documentary and fiction films, alongside thought-provoking talks, at two distinct venues: the Mirage City Cinema, an open-air theater in Sharjah’s historical quarter, and VOX Cinemas at City Centre Al Zahia.

This year’s program includes award-winning films across four categories: Documentary Feature, Documentary Short, Fiction Feature, and Fiction Short.

Participating films

Among the highly anticipated films is A Fidai Film (2024) by Kamal Aljafari, a documentary that uses archival footage to reclaim looted memories of Palestinian history.

Another standout is Places of the Soul (2023) by Hamida Issa, an environmental journey that contrasts Antarctica’s icy landscapes with Qatar’s deserts, exploring how extreme climates shape human experiences.

Additional selections include Cu li không bao gió khóc (Cu Li Never Cries) (2024) by Pham Ngoc Lan, a black-and-white exploration of personal and political histories in contemporary Vietnam, and The Great Yawn of History (2024) by Iranian filmmaker Aliyar Rasti, which follows a religious middle-aged man on a treasure hunt laced with philosophical undertones.

Two Sharjah Art Foundation-supported films are also set to premiere: Upshot (2024) by Maha Haj, a poignant drama about a couple wrestling with their painful past, and From Ground Zero (2024), a powerful anthology of 22 short films by Gazan filmmakers, offering a collective insight into life and resilience in Gaza. This anthology will serve as the festival’s closing piece, bringing the voices of 22 filmmakers to an international audience.

This year’s edition promises a rich, multicultural cinematic experience, inviting viewers to engage with stories from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.