The Facts
On November 5, 2026, Sharjah Art Foundation announced the return of First Takes at Sharjah Film Platform 9 (SFP9), a programme featuring 12 short experimental films by UAE-based students and recent graduates. Developed in collaboration with American University of Sharjah, New York University Abu Dhabi, University of the Arts Sharjah, and Zayed University, the two-day event includes screenings, a pitching workshop led by Hamburg-based filmmaker Anne Backhaus, feedback sessions, and peer networking. The films, which blend documentary, fiction, and animation, explore identity, memory, belonging, and social expectations.
The Signal
The programme extends SFP9's mission to support emerging filmmakers by offering practical skills development alongside exhibition. The partnership with Kurzfilm Festival Hamburg brings international industry expertise, while the diverse storytelling approaches—from personal archives to AI-generated animation—highlight the range of new voices in Gulf cinema. For collectors and curators, the initiative signals the foundation's investment in cultivating a new generation of artists who may influence the region's cultural production.
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- Artists: Noor Al Qasimi, Adam Noeman, Sundus Al Hammadi, Mariam AlQasimi, Humaid AlMazaini, Mohamed Mahkareem, Abigail Chien, Safaa Abdalla, Sara Alhammadi, Shahad Muallemi, Ameera Alblooshi, Hamda Alhashmi, Maryam Aljenaibi, Rouda Alhammadi, Ward Furany, Alya Alwdai, Menna Zayed, Zain Allababidi
- People: Hoor Al Qasimi, Anne Backhaus
- Museums: Sharjah Art Foundation
- Locations: Sharjah
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