A total of 121 films from 33 countries will be screened next month at the 4th annual Sharjah International Children’s Film Festival.

This year, 425 films from 59 countries were presented for review, a significant increase from the last year, when 286 films from 50 countries were submitted. The films are geared towards children aged 12-year-old and youth from 13 to 18-year-old, according to an announcement of the Sharjah International Children’s Film Festival, SICFF, which is an initiative of FUNN, a Sharjah-based foundation that seeks to promote media arts and creative talent among youth in the UAE.

Competitors from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, India, USA and many other countries in Europe, Asia and the MENA region are competing in eight categories: "Best Child Made Film", "Best Student Film", " Best Emirati Film", "Best Short Film from the Gulf", "Best International Short Film", "Best Animation", "Best Documentary" and "Best Feature".

The FUNN foundation is under the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of the Ruler of Sharjah, to nurture and showcase local talent of Sharjah’s youth on the global stage.

Sheikha Jawaher bint Abdullah Al Qasimi, Director of FUNN and Director of SICFF, commented, "This year, we have seen a remarkable increase in quality filmmaking and have noted a refinement in the themes covered by our young talents. SICFF is still growing, but in 2016, we have seen the highest participation rate for our festival, a total of 425 submissions, compared to the 286 submissions we received last year."

She added, "All films hold a heartwarming message about family dynamics, environmental concerns, social justice issues and so on. Although we see movies with similar themes in cinemas, these festival films are remarkable as they are told through the eyes of a child. We are given a unique opportunity to relive worldly experiences through a simpler, uncomplicated lens."

SICFF screenings will feature a total of nine categories: "Films Made by Refugees", "Short Films from the Arab World", "Child Made Films", "Films Made by FUNN Students", "Student Films", "International Short Films", "Animation Films", "Documentary Films" and "Feature Films".