The Middle East’s own cartoon character Nana al Zanana, a temperamental little fly that is the protagonist in an original short animated series produced for Cartoon Network by Follk Studios Egypt, was the subject of an animated discussion at the Sharjah Animation Conference (SAC), happening at Expo Centre Sharjah until May 5. Moderated by Mounia Aram, animation producer, the talk featured Islam Ahmed Al-Sayed, the Creative Director at Follk Creative Solutions, and Aya Hammad, the marketing and digital manager of Warner Bros. Discovery for the MENA region who has won awards for the impactful project. Titled “Showcasing Nana al Zanana”,…
Author: Kashan Tumsil
Children were in attendance early in the morning to make soft pretzels from scratch and eat the baked snack they had designed during the “Twist and Taste Pretzels” cookery workshop at the 15th edition of the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF) taking place in Expo Centre Sharjah from May 1-12. Guided by chefs Lamia Msallam and Massa, the under-12 bunch of kids learnt about the process of kneading dough, shaping pretzels – dividing them into small balls, and then rolling them into thin rope-like strips and folding them inwards to create a loop or bow – sprinkle salt and sesame…
The Florence Pops Orchestra returned to the Sharjah Animation Conference with a spectacular concert titled “Echoes of Fantasy: The Florence Pops Orchestra Plays the Classics of Gaming.” The performance left the audience spellbound and earned numerous standing ovations throughout the evening. The 48-member orchestra enthralled the audience with their dynamic renditions of 13 iconic tracks from beloved Japanese animations and gaming classics. Each note resonated with the crowd, who constantly responded with applause and cheers, thoroughly immersed in the musical journey. Delving deep into the heart of iconic gaming soundtracks, the Florence Pops Orchestra played the evocative melodies…
His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah has directed the allocation of an AED 2.5 million for the buying of latest titles from participating publishers and booksellers at the ongoing 15th annual Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF 2024), to update and further enrich the Sharjah Public Library. The annual grant is awarded to this Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) event to further His Highness’s vision to support the regional and global book industries, continually improve Sharjah’s offerings to readers, students, researchers and academics and general knowledge seekers in the UAE and beyond…
The Sharjah Animation Conference (SAC) 2024 concluded its five-day celebration of the creative medium of animation, welcoming over 8,000 animation enthusiasts, aspiring professionals, and industry experts from around the world. Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), the second edition of this premier event showcased the boundless creativity and innovation shaping the future of the animation industry. The conference featured an exceptional lineup of 32 international speakers, 11 workshops, comprehensive masterclasses, and 18 panel discussions, providing attendees with a unique opportunity to learn from the best in the business and explore the latest trends and technologies in the field. During…
Today at 7.50am (9.35am Nepal local time), Naila Kiani, a worldwide leading high-altitude mountaineer, has achieved yet another historic milestone by successfully summiting Makalu, the 5th highest peak in the world, and her 11th 8,000-metre mountain. Kiani’s latest triumph underscores her exceptional skill and resilience, solidifying her reputation as one of the world’s foremost mountaineers. Having lived in Dubai for 9 years, Kiani is the first ever Pakistani woman to achieve 11 of the world’s 14 highest peaks above 8,000 metres. Her final summit push of Makalu took place across the whole of last night and will continue throughout today…
The 12-day Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival features a mosaic of workshops, talks, and events that foster diverse mental stimulation for children The Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF 2024) organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), beautifully aligns with the contemporary era, presenting a mosaic of workshops, talks, and events. Its central ethos fosters diverse mental stimulation for children, offering novel experiences and opportunities to refine their skills. Among these is the increasingly popular Smash Room, a concept that is gaining traction globally due to its unique approach to stress relief and active play. During a 45-minute session, children aged…
Menassah Distribution Company, dedicated to bolstering the distribution, marketing, and sales of Emirati books both locally and globally, recently took part in the Tunis International Book Fair 2024, a prominent cultural event in North Africa. Menassah is actively featuring local literary works at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) and the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF) 2024. Menassah participated with an independent stand at the Tunis International Book Fair, held from 19 – 28 April at the Exhibition Palace in Al-Karam, Tunis. With titles from 314 exhibitors from 25 countries, the event featured 2,300 books from 51 member publishing…
There may still be some time left for the much-awaited UEFA Euro 2024 – scheduled to take place in Germany from June 14 to July 14 – but for football fans at the ongoing Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF), the wait for the showpiece event is over. And they are all turning their attention to the 12-day festival, being organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) at the Sharjah Expo centre, to immerse themselves in everything football – from picking up books on the beautiful game to saying hi to mascots that look like their favourite superstar. This includes a…
Visitors to the 2nd edition of Sharjah Animation Conference (SAC) heard all about the collaborative process behind some of the world’s most beloved animated series on Friday. Celebrated producer Benoit Di Sabatino joined his contemporaries Giorgio Welter, Tom Beattie and Girogio Scorza for an insightful panel discussion moderated by animation producer entrepreneur Mounia Aram as the quartet wowed the audience with fascinating stories behind characters like ‘Topo Gigio,’ ‘Mr. Bean,’ ‘Hello Kitty,’ and ‘TotallySpies.’ “Our plan is to develop those brands for ever and ever and ever,” said Di Sabatino, the CEO of Banijay kids and family, a French television…