The Sharjah Arts Foundation announced the winning films of the eighth edition of the Sharjah Film Platform, which was held from November 14 to 23, 2025, at the Sarab Al Madina open-air cinema in the heart of the historic district of Sharjah, in addition to the VOX Cinemas in City Center Al Zahia.
The film “Becoming a Guinea Fowl” (2024), directed by Rungano Nyoni, won the award for Best Feature Narrative; The Best Short Fiction award went to the film “The Devil and the Bicycle” (2024), directed by Sharon Hakim.
The Best Feature Documentary Award was given to the film “Walking in the Dark” directed by: Kinchuk Surjan (2024); And the best short documentary for “Morning Circle” (2025), directed by Basma Al-Sharif.
In its comments on the winning feature films, the jury confirmed that the two films – long and short – presented a critical approach to manifestations of societal hypocrisy, cases of collective denial, and entrenched taboos, through new visions that re-ask major questions from unfamiliar angles. They also draw inspiration from social realism, and reshape them with a special artistic touch that reveals the high craftsmanship of the directors, where every shot and every moment acquires a clear meaning that contributes to building the experience. Complete.
While the documentary jury considered that both films – short and long – presented profound cinematic approaches that go beyond traditional narration. In “Morning Circle,” the committee praised the sensory treatment that transports the audience to the internal worlds of the immigrant, revealing the hidden violence that permeates the details of his daily life. As for “Walking in the Dark,” the committee considered it an influential humanitarian work that sheds light on the resilience of farmers’ widows in the face of tragedy and marginalization, through a character that exudes realism and flexibility, giving the film a dramatic power that goes beyond the prevailing templates in documentary cinema.
This year’s competition included 27 films that spanned a wide geographic range and presented a global vision of storytelling. The screenings began with the film “Bab” by director Nayla Al Khaja, along with prominent works such as “Carissa” and “Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk,” in addition to 5 short films produced with support from the platform’s short film production grant.
The platform also celebrated, within the “Directors in the Spotlight” section, the cinematic legacy of the late director Jocelyn Saab, by showing a group of her long and short films, in addition to a discussion session and an intensive workshop to restore her works in cooperation with her association.
The session also witnessed the launch of the “First Shows” program, which allowed university students and recent graduates in the Emirates to present their experimental short films and participate in discussions that addressed the reality of the emerging film industry. This year, the program included students and graduates of: the American University of Sharjah, New York University Abu Dhabi, the University of Sharjah, and Zayed University.
