Film lovers in Sharjah can catch 10 days of award-winning movies, UAE premieres and special screenings for just Dh40 with the Early Bird Festival Pass.

The ninth edition of Sharjah Film Platform (SFP9) runs from October 30 to November 8, 2026, bringing nearly 30 feature-length and short films to Sharjah.

Screenings will take place at Mirage City Cinema, the open-air theatre in Sharjah’s historic quarter, along with other cinemas across the emirate.

The Dh40 Early Bird Festival Pass offers unlimited access to all film screenings, meaning pass holders do not need to book individual tickets. Simply show the pass at the cinema and enter.

The offer is available until October 7, 2026, for a limited time.

Movies from India to Lebanon

This year’s programme features films by filmmakers from India, Mauritania, Egypt, Indonesia, Lebanon and other countries.

The festival’s Director in Focus is acclaimed Mauritanian filmmaker Abderrahmane Sissako, whose work explores identity, migration, displacement and life across Africa.

His films include Bamako (2006), which examines the impact of global economic policies on Africa through a symbolic trial staged in a Malian courtyard.

Sissako will also host a masterclass offering audiences an insight into his filmmaking career and creative practice.

Must-watch films

Among the festival highlights is An Incomplete Drowning (2026), an experimental feature by Larissa Sansour and Soren Lind, set aboard a mysterious ship drifting through the Mediterranean.

Ashtar Muallem’s debut short Land of Denied Rituals (2025) draws inspiration from funerary traditions once performed by Palestinian women.

The programme also includes I Broke a Vase (2025) by Asim Abdulaziz, supported by the Sharjah Art Foundation’s Short Film Production Grant, and Fatima Wardy’s White Musk (2025), which explores themes of love and loss.

Entry for underage guests will depend on the individual film’s rating.

For the full programme and festival information, visit Sharjah Art Foundation.