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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Today
21 hours ago
- Gulf Today
SBA displays cultural vision of Sharjah at Rio Book Fair
Under the directives of Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), the emirate of Sharjah is showcasing its rich cultural vision at the Rio International Book Fair 2025 (Bienal do Livro) in Brazil, highlighting the vibrancy of contemporary Emirati and Arab literature. The authority is also presenting a selection of Emirati works translated into Portuguese, reflecting the emirate's commitment to sharing the UAE's cultural achievements with the world. The authority's participation in the largest event of its kind in Latin America, which runs until June 22, comes as part of Brazil's celebration of World Book Capitals following the selection of Rio de Janeiro as the World Book Capital for 2025. This prestigious title, which Sharjah held in 2019, recognises the emirate's global standing in supporting culture and the publishing industry. Through its pavilion, SBA shed light on the diversity of the cultural movement in the UAE and the wider Arab world, highlighting major achievements in knowledge, literature and publishing. The authority actively engaged in panel discussions and held meetings with publishers, translators and cultural organisations, to strengthen knowledge exchange and expand opportunities for translating works to and from Arabic. As part of its efforts to build lasting partnerships, SBA invited key players in the publishing industry to take part in the emirate's leading international initiatives, including the Sharjah International Book Fair, the Sharjah Children's Reading Festival, the Sharjah Publishers Conference, the Sharjah International Library Conference and other prominent global events held throughout the year. Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA, affirmed that the authority's participation in the Rio International Book Fair reflects the vision of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who places culture at the heart of development strategies and views books as a powerful tool for building bridges of dialogue with the world. Al Ameri said: 'Sharjah's presence in Rio highlights the central role of Emirati and Arab culture on the global knowledge map. Today, we are not only sharing our Emirati identity but also fostering a vibrant dialogue between Latin America, with its rich intellectual and cultural heritage, and the Arab world in all its expressions of thought, literature, art, and creativity. The selection of Rio as World Book Capital for 2025 offers us an opportunity to renew and strengthen our partnerships with the cultural community in Latin America.' He added: 'Under the guidance of Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the SBA, we are committed to empowering Emirati and Arab publishers and authors to reach new markets and to developing sustainable support systems that enhance their presence on the global publishing stage.' As part of the cultural programme at the book fair, SBA organised a panel discussion titled, 'The heritage of Arab literature and Sharjah-led new literary movement', which explored the evolution of the Emirati literary landscape and the emirate's vital contribution to nurturing writers and advancing cultural initiatives. On the sidelines of the event, SBA organised a special book signing ceremony for the translated titles, underscoring the authority's commitment to deepening cultural exchange and strengthening the international presence of Emirati literature. During its participation, SBA highlighted several of its leading initiatives in publishing and knowledge exchange. These include the Sharjah International Book Fair, the Sharjah Children's Reading Festival, and the Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone. The authority also introduced the Sharjah Publishing Sustainability Fund (Onshur), an initiative designed to support publishing industries in emerging markets, and the Sharjah Literary Agency, which works to protect the rights of Arab authors and publishers while expanding their international presence. The authority has also drawn attention to the role of Sharjah Public Libraries, one of the region's oldest cultural institutions, which has been promoting knowledge for more than a century. Publishers have been briefed on the specialist international conferences hosted annually in the emirate, including the Sharjah Publishers Conference, the Sharjah International Library Conference, the Booksellers Conference and the Sharjah Animation Conference.
Khaleej Times
3 days ago
- Khaleej Times
'Sharing Emirati identity': Sharjah showcases UAE literature at Rio International Book Fair
Sharjah is participating in the Rio International Book Fair 2025, presenting a range of Emirati and Arab literary works as part of efforts to strengthen cultural exchange with Latin America. The Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) is showcasing Emirati literature translated into Portuguese and promoting Sharjah's role in the global publishing industry at the Rio International Book Fair 2025. The event, which runs until June 22, coincides with Rio de Janeiro's designation as UNESCO's World Book Capital for 2025 a title previously held by Sharjah in participation comes under the directives of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA). Through its pavilion, SBA is presenting works from the UAE and the Arab world, highlighting developments in literature, publishing, and cultural programming. The delegation is also engaging with international publishers, translators, and cultural institutions to explore opportunities for cooperation and translation. SBA CEO Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri said the participation reflects the vision of Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who views culture as central to development. 'Sharjah's presence in Rio is about sharing Emirati identity while building stronger connections with Latin American cultural communities,' he said. As part of the book fair's programme, SBA organised a panel titled: " The heritage of Arab literature and Sharjah-led new literary movement", featuring Emirati authors whose works have been translated into Portuguese. These included Abdul Hamid Ahmad, Lulwah Al Mansouri, and Nasser Al Dhaheri. The session focused on Sharjah's role in supporting authors and encouraging new writing. The fair also featured a book signing ceremony for the translated titles, aimed at promoting Emirati literature to new audiences. SBA used the platform to introduce key cultural and publishing initiatives from the emirate, including the Sharjah International Book Fair, Sharjah Children's Reading Festival, and Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone. Other programmes highlighted included the Sharjah Publishing Sustainability Fund (Onshur) and the Sharjah Literary Agency, which supports Arab authors and expands their international reach. The Sharjah pavilion also hosted the PublisHer initiative, founded by Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi to support women in publishing. A selection of titles from Al Qasimi Publications and works from the Department of Culture were also on display. First held in 1983, the Rio International Book Fair is Brazil's largest literary event, attracting more than 600,000 visitors. Organised by the National Union of Book Publishers (SNEL), it serves as a key platform for exchanging ideas and promoting global literary dialogue.
Zawya
05-06-2025
- Zawya
Onshur marks major milestone with graduation of Scale Track cohort
Sharjah, Under the patronage and in the presence of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), the Sharjah Publishing Sustainability Fund (Onshur) celebrated the graduation of the first cohort of its 2025 Scale Track at SBA's headquarters. The programme is designed to support established publishers in the UAE in scaling their operations through sustainable and strategic growth. The ceremony honoured twelve publishers who completed the intensive training course. The event was attended by His Excellency H.E. Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA, and H.E. Rashid Al Kous, Executive Director of the Emirates Publishers Association, as well as programme partners, experts, trainers, and representatives from local and Arab media. The twelve graduating publishers were selected from a pool of 62 applicants who met rigorous eligibility criteria. These included a demonstrated track record of producing high-quality cultural content and a well-defined strategic vision for expansion aligned with global publishing developments. The graduating cohort comprised Ajyal Publishing, Ghaf Publications, Sidra Publishing and Distribution, Loaloa Publishing and Distribution, Kalman Publishing and Distribution, Nabatti Publishing, Shaheen Printing Publishing and Distribution, Dar Al-Farqad, Dar Shams Publishing, Dar Al Fikr Al Jadeed, Dar Al Bayan Al Arabi, and Noor Publishing. Driving tangible progress for Emirati and Arab publishers Commenting on the occasion, Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, Chairperson of SBA, emphasised the importance of empowering UAE publishers to grow and innovate within a sustainable framework. She stated: 'The Scale Track reflects our vision of enabling publishers to move beyond survival, towards a future defined by excellence, creativity, and leadership in enriching the Arab publishing landscape both locally and globally.' She continued: 'I am proud of this cohort, who have shown a remarkable capacity for learning, growth, and openness to new experiences. I believe they are now equipped with the tools and insights needed to build more resilient and adaptable business models. While they represent the current state of Arab publishing, they are equally poised to shape its global future, fuelled by ambition, determination, and a genuine passion for the written word.' Revitalising the future of Arab literature H.E. Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA, said: 'What distinguishes these publishers is their clear ambition to grow and their willingness to embrace new tools and ideas that can propel their businesses forward. Their participation in the Scale Track represents a strategic blueprint for the regional publishing sector's expansion, firmly rooted in innovation and sustainability. This vision is inspired by Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi's commitment to cultivating a network of publishers equipped to compete on both regional and global stages, driving a renewed momentum for Arab literature and culture.' Turning vision into actionable success For his part, H.E. Rashid Al Kous, Executive Director of the Emirates Publishers Association, congratulated the graduates and commended their commitment to transforming ambition into tangible results. He said: 'We extend our congratulations to this exceptional cohort, who have exemplified what it means to turn vision into reality. The Scale Track has provided participants with critical skills enabling them to thrive in both local and international markets amid a rapidly evolving publishing landscape.' Laying the foundations for strategic publishing growth The ceremony opened with a keynote speech by Iman Ben Chaibah, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Global Markets at SBA. She highlighted that Onshur is reshaping how support is delivered to publishers by offering a comprehensive strategic framework that fosters long-term, sustainable growth. 'The Scale Track has surpassed the boundaries of traditional training,' she said. 'It has established a professional platform dedicated to enhancing publishers' operational capabilities and deepening their industry expertise.' Unlocking sustained expansion through targeted support Following the directives of Sheikha Bodour, graduates of the Scale Track benefit from a robust package of post-programme support. This includes one year of professional accounting services to ensure compliance, guidance in applying for the Sharjah International Translation Grant, onboarding to Ingram's global distribution network, access to business loans secured against publishing contracts, specialised advisory sessions, and priority access to upcoming Onshur initiatives. These measures are designed to help publishers shift from operational stability to strategic and sustainable expansion.
