Two Emirati Films Compete at Sharjah Children's Film Festival
The Mangrove House, a musical about two deaf brothers, had its world premiere as the festival's opening film.
Two Emirati films are screening in competition at the 13th Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth: Khalid Al Mahmood's musical The Mangrove House and Abdulrahman Al Madani's family drama Oug, according to Variety.
The Mangrove House had its world premiere as the festival's opening film. The project was pitched at SIFF's inaugural Film Pitching Session last year, and FANN – Media Discovery Platform, the festival's parent organization, subsequently backed the film.
The musical follows two deaf brothers and their sister as they try to raise money for a competition. It originated with Emirati writer and editor Ayesha Alameri, whose brother is deaf. Her original screenplay ran 23 pages, and Al Mahmood concentrated the film around one section of the script.
Oug, which received a grant from the UAE Ministry of Culture, is the third film Al Madani has screened at the festival. His earlier films Nagafa and Laymoon played at SIFF in 2015 and 2019, respectively.
In 2026 Al Madani launched Meylas Aflam, a screening initiative for Emirati shorts that has held four sold-out screenings this year.
Quick answers
Which Emirati films are in competition at the 13th Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth?
Khalid Al Mahmood's musical The Mangrove House and Abdulrahman Al Madani's family drama Oug.
What is The Mangrove House about?
It is a musical about two deaf brothers and their sister trying to raise money for a competition.
Has Abdulrahman Al Madani screened films at the festival before?
Yes, Oug is the third film he has screened at the festival, after Nagafa in 2015 and Laymoon in 2019.