‘My Driver and I,’ ‘Miss Moxy,’ ‘Guardians of the Mountains’ Among Standout Titles at Sharjah Film Festival

The Sharjah Intl. Film Festival for Children and Youth, now in its 12th edition (Oct. 6-12), affirmed its growing stature as one of the Arab world’s most dynamic and globally connected showcases for new cinema. This year’s program featured 76 films from 26 countries, selected from over 1,700 submissions, including first time entries from Sao Tomé and Principe, Belize and Ecuador, reflecting both an expanding international reach and deepening artistic ambition. From intimate animations to socially-charged dramas and visually-daring documentaries, Siff celebrated stories that blend emotional honesty with creative risk.

The festival’s launch of the Global Children and Youth Film Congress underscored its evolving role not just as a screening platform, but as a space for dialogue, mentorship and cross-cultural collaboration. More than ever, the films in competition demonstrated how stories rooted in youth perspectives can carry striking emotional and political weight, exploring identity, resilience, and belonging through fresh perspectives.