logo
72 international experts to share thirty secrets during 3rd SAC

72 international experts to share thirty secrets during 3rd SAC

Sharjah 2419-03-2025

Taking place at Expo Centre Sharjah from May 1 to 4, the four-day conference, organised in collaboration with Italy's Bergamo Animation Days (BAD), will be packed with the latest trends, cutting-edge technologies, and game-changing opportunities, offering endless possibilities for the future of animated storytelling. SAC 2025 will feature a stellar line-up of 72 international speakers, delivering 26 specialised workshops, 21 panel discussions, exclusive film screenings, and exhibitions.
Attendees will also have the chance to connect with renowned directors, illustrators from leading global studios, and award-winning artists, making SAC 2025 a unique platform for collaboration, innovation, and creative exchange in the world of animation, reinforcing Sharjah's status as a hub for visual arts and a global destination for animation talent.
A global hub for creative exchange
Khoula Al Mujaini, Executive Director of SAC, emphasised that the third edition will serve as a global platform, bringing together leading figures in the animation industry to exchange expertise and explore the latest innovations in this rapidly evolving field. She highlighted that hosting the event alongside the Sharjah Children's Reading Festival creates a valuable opportunity for publishers and authors to collaborate with animation creators, paving the way for literary works to be transformed into engaging visual content that reaches wider audiences.
She added: 'Animation is a universal language that transcends borders, cultures, and generations. This industry has produced iconic works that remain deeply embedded in the memory of audiences worldwide, demonstrating the enduring power of animation in crafting stories that resonate across diverse backgrounds. Through SAC, we aim to celebrate this remarkable art form, inspire new generations of creatives, and provide a space where industry leaders can connect, collaborate, and push the boundaries of animated storytelling.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Sharjah spotlights global storytelling at SAC
Sharjah spotlights global storytelling at SAC

Gulf Today

time06-05-2025

  • Gulf Today

Sharjah spotlights global storytelling at SAC

'Translation is far more than a linguistic process, it's the exchange of culture and we're inviting the globe into our worldview,' noted Tamer Said, Director of the Sharjah Literary Agency, setting the tone for an insightful panel discussion at the 3rd edition of the Sharjah Animation Conference (SAC 2025). 'Bringing Middle Eastern Stories to Global Audiences' brought together industry leaders to dissect the challenges and triumphs of exporting regional narratives worldwide, and Said was joined by Allegra Dami, CEO, and Ilaria Mazzonis, an Executive Producer at Mobo Digital. The visionary ecosystem of Sharjah Highlighting Sharjah's role as a cultural hub guided by the vision and support of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, Tamer Said noted the emirate has championed Arabic literature and storytelling through various initiatives and organisations under the umbrella of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), who are also the organisers of SAC 2025. 'We support creators across all media, from books to animation, ensuring our stories are rooted in our language and heritage,' Said emphasised. Through participation in international book fairs and other platforms that champion translation, Sharjah has increased its global footprint. Dami, whose parent company sold over 20 million children's books to 70 nations globally, shared insights into its foray into animation. 'Animation translates stories into reality,' she noted, stressing the synergy between storytelling, visual artistry, sound design and music. The concept of 'glocal' (global + local) storytelling emerged as a cornerstone in their approach.

Urdu Fest 2025 draws crowds in Sharjah
Urdu Fest 2025 draws crowds in Sharjah

Gulf Today

time06-05-2025

  • Gulf Today

Urdu Fest 2025 draws crowds in Sharjah

In a vibrant celebration of language and cultural heritage, the Sharjah Children's Reading Festival, in collaboration with Bazm-e-Urdu, has hosted Urdu Fest 2025 at the Intellectual Hall, Expo Centre Sharjah. The event brought together students, educators, poets, and literary enthusiasts for a day dedicated to showcasing the richness and elegance of the Urdu language through competitions and artistic performances. The event featured two flagship competitions, Inter-School Baitbaazi (live poetry) Championship and Debate (Taqreeri) Competition. Both saw participation by schoolchildren from different Emirates across the UAE and demonstrating their eloquence, confidence, and deep-rooted connection to Urdu literature. The event opened with welcoming remarks by Arsal Abbas, followed by a heartfelt introduction to Bazm-e-Urdu by Afia Khan, a bright and confident Grade 5 student. Both the Debate and Baitbazi competitions captivated the audience, showcasing the students' eloquence, wit, and deep engagement with Urdu literature. A distinguished panel of judges — Dr Asim Sabahat Wasti, Aijaz Shaheen, Arif Bhaldar, Kishwar, Nadeem Ahmad, Asad Haider, and Imad ul Malik — evaluated the performances with great appreciation. Shakeel Ahmed Khan, President of Bazm-e-Urdu, applauded the efforts of the entire Bazm-e-Urdu volunteer team, with special recognition to the organisation's founder Rehan Khan, currently based in Canada, for his instrumental role in planning and preparing the event. The Baitbaazi Championship was moderated by renowned poet, Syed Tabish Zaidi, who eloquently highlighted the educational and cultural importance of this poetic tradition. 'Baitbaazi is more than just a literary game – it's an intellectual activity that enhances memory, strengthens vocabulary, and deepens our appreciation of classical Urdu poetry,' said Zaidi. He further added that Baitbaazi, a beloved tradition across Pakistan, India, and the Urdu-speaking diaspora, inspires youth to engage with poetry and helps preserve this cherished art form for future generations. Winners of the Debate Competition were: 1st Place: Pakistani Islamic Private School, Al Ain, 2nd Place: His Highness Shaikh Rashid Al Maktoum Pakistan School Dubai, 3rd Place: Pakistani Islamic Private School, Al Ain. Winners of the Bait Bazi Championship were 1st Place: Pakistan Islamia Higher Secondary School, Fujairah, 2nd Place: Pakistani Islamic Private School, Al Ain and 3rd Place: His Highness Shaikh Rashid Al Maktoum Pakistan School Dubai.

SAC 2025 draws its final frame after 4 days of insight
SAC 2025 draws its final frame after 4 days of insight

Sharjah 24

time05-05-2025

  • Sharjah 24

SAC 2025 draws its final frame after 4 days of insight

SAC 2025 also celebrated creative excellence with a $20,000 awards program, where Ahmed Bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA; and Pietro Pinetti, the Artistic Director of SAC; presented the 'Book Trailer Award', honoring outstanding efforts in literary visual storytelling; and the 'Pitch the Project Award', for culturally inspired children's animation concepts. The ceremony also recognised leading figures and influencers in animation, including a special lifetime achievement award to the late Masami Suda, with his wife, Chuda Suda, accepting the award on his behalf. As the renowned creator and character designer behind iconic works like 'Dragon Ball'; the award honoured his artistic legacy that inspired generations of fans worldwide. Additionally, the Sharjah Animation Conference Ambassador award was presented to the international animator Sandro Cleuzo, who has advanced the conference's vision and expanded its regional and global impact. The conference's success was enhanced with collaboration from key partners, including Du as official Telecommunication Partner; SAE Institute as Educational Partner; and Technical Partners, Toon Boom, Wacom, and HP; all providing expertise and technology to elevate the 4-day event. Together as one creative community Khoula Al Mujaini, Executive Director of SAC, underscored the conference's expansive impact, crediting its success to the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah; and the guidance of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of SBA. 'SAC has become a true growing platform; a space where publishers, artists, industry leaders, and broadcasters meet, collaborate, and convert ideas into reality,' Al Mujaini remarked. 'We'll continue to connect through online and offline meetups throughout the year because we believe in building bridges, not just events. In learning, in sharing knowledge, in staying together as one creative community.' Al Mujaini also emphasised that the rapid pace of technological innovation in animation requires content creators to remain continuously responsive to new developments. She described the conference as a vital platform that connects aspiring animators with industry leaders, fostering an environment of learning, experimentation and meaningful international collaboration. The future of animation SAC 2025's agenda offered a forward-looking lens into the digital future of animation and hosted more than 35 specialised workshops and 29 roundtables and panel discussions covering illustration, animation, scripting, as well as digital technologies and AI. Key figures in character design and production unveiled the secrets behind iconic scenes and shared advanced techniques for character animation. The programme also explored global examples of adapting literary works into animated television and cinema productions, providing unparalleled learning opportunities. Connecting the global industry, the 4-day conference created a dynamic platform for content creators to exchange insights and build professional connections, with the conversations addressing key institutional challenges, including the need for stronger local production infrastructure and strategies to enhance global collaboration in content distribution and broadcasting. Notably, women played a prominent role in the discourse, with leading female creators and industry leaders sharing powerful reflections on the projects that have made a mark on the global stage. SAC Awards 2025 amplifies creative voices The closing ceremony celebrated creativity and cultural heritage with its Book Trailer Award and Pitch the Project Award, distributing a $20,000 prize pool to honor outstanding talent. The Book Trailer Award, recognising visionary adaptations of literature into promotional videos, crowned Ahmed Arnaouty as its first-place winner, followed by Aishwarya Carriappa and Zainab Jebur for their visual interpretation of the book 'Dooq Dooq' by Shereen Sabbagh. Meanwhile, the Pitch the Project Award, which challenged creators to design animated series rooted in regional traditions for young audiences, awarded top honors to Mohammed Jandali, Abdalla Almunajad received second place, and Eslam Aboshady secured third place for their culturally rich storytelling proposals. The awards underscores SAC's commitment to nurturing talent that bridges global animation trends with the Middle East's vibrant heritage, amplifying voices poised to shape the industry's future. Concerts, networking event, and screenings Elevating SAC 2025's cultural and collaborative offerings, attendees reveled in live performances from Italy's Florence Pops Orchestra with the closing ceremony concluding with a concert that blended various memorable soundtracks from animated films. The evenings of Day 1 & 3, also witnessed the orchestra deliver renditions of Disney classics like The Lion King and Frozen; and a nostalgic Studio Ghibli tribute featuring Joe Hisaishi's iconic scores from Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro. On the evening of Day 2, the historic Bait Alowal hosted an exclusive networking evening, uniting industry leaders and creators to forge partnerships, and across the four days, curated film screenings celebrated animation's legacy and future, spotlighting indie gems and emerging regional talent alongside beloved Oscar-winning classics.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store