Sheikha Jawaher bint Abdullah Al Qasimi, Director of SIFF (Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth) & FANN (Sharjah Media Arts for Youth and Children), speaks to Tell Me Why podcast host Maria Botros about the importance of nurturing and exhibiting children and youth’s creative talents.
- The Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth (SIFF) showcases films made by and for the children
- Films have become educational and address issues like mental health, bullying, and pollution
- The film festival screens films by refugees almost every year to shed light on the issue
- Call of submissions for the film festival begin in January every year
- Seeing that it is a film festival for children and youth, there are certain categories judged by a jury of children
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- The Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth (SIFF) showcases films made by and for the children
- Films have become educational and address issues like mental health, bullying, and pollution
- The film festival screens films by refugees almost every year to shed light on the issue
- Call of submissions for the film festival begin in January every year
- Seeing that it is a film festival for children and youth, there are certain categories judged by a jury of children
Read the full story here:
See more videos at https://gulfnews.com/videos
Read more Gulf News stories here: https://bit.ly/2HLJ2km
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NewsTranscript
00:00And I remember that so well. At that time, my son was six years old.
00:04And a woman walked out and said, no, so the child in the film ate some pebbles.
00:08And now my child is going to go home and eat some pebbles.
00:10But you like ruined my kid's life. And I remember looking at her and said,
00:15now in this generation, they're exposed to everything.
00:19I cannot, as a mom, I cannot depend on media or schools.
00:24I have to have a role as well. At that time, my son used to live in costumes.
00:28Literally. Spider-Man, Superman, in bed, in the plane, in the mall, at home, in school.
00:35And I remember so well donating his clothes because they don't fit him with their tags.
00:41But as a mom, I cannot say, you know what, I'm never letting him watch any superhero film.
00:47Because he eventually will. And by me saying no, it will make him want to watch that and no more.
00:54So it's my role saying, watch. But you know what? You can't climb on buildings. You can't fly.
01:01So that's me saying this.
01:08All right. Welcome back to Tell Me Why, which is a Gulf News original podcast.
01:12This is Maria Botros. And today is a very special episode.
01:16I have a very important and special guest with me in the studio.
01:20I'm truly honored and pleased to welcome Sheikha Jawahir bint Abdullah Al Qasimi,
01:26who is the director of FUN and Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth.
01:32Thank you for having me.
01:33Thank you so much for joining us.
01:35And I know it's quite the distance coming from Sharjah, so we really appreciate it.
01:41First of all, Sheikha Jawahir, tell us about yourself.
01:44Like you were just talking to me before we started the episode and before we started recording.
01:50You were telling me about your marvelous journey,
01:54your professional career and your marvelous journey through the years.
01:58And we're not going to reveal your age because you look really young,
02:03but I was in awe that you achieved so much at such a young age.
02:07So tell us about yourself, please.
02:09Well, I graduated school when I was 15 and then went to Sharjah University.
02:15I actually started with MIT as a major because everyone was studying at MIT at that time.
02:22And that was kind of the trend, I would say.
02:25And it was 1999.
02:30I took a course and then I hated it so much.
02:33And I was like, no, I'm not doing that.
02:35I switched to English language and literature because I love the language.
02:40That was my reasoning.
02:41And I remember meeting the head of English and he goes, well, why do you want to move?
02:46We had to convince him to switch the major.
02:49So I said, I love the language.
02:50And he looks at me and he says, I have never seen this answer.
02:53Everyone comes and says it's because it's easier.
02:56And I was like, well, not really Shakespeare and phonics and not really easy.
03:01But I love the language and I love reading.
03:04And I used to write prose and poetry at that time.
03:08So I was in awe of the language.
03:10Very nice.
03:11So I did that.
03:13And then I worked for around 9 to 10 years in the educational sector,
03:18which I was an English teacher for a couple of years and then a librarian
03:24and then an English language coordinator for the English teachers section.
03:28So that was all in primary school.
03:31Amazing.
03:32And I started doing that when I was 19.
03:35Wow.
03:36It wasn't easy.
03:37Yeah, you're very young.
03:39Yeah, I remember my parents taking me to first day of work.
03:43And I actually worked with women who used to work with my mom.
03:49Because my mom was a social worker in a school for 15 years previously to her current job.
03:54So they remembered me as a child coming with my mom and I worked with them.
03:58But in a way that made me feel safe.
04:01Yes, of course.
04:01I was always mistaken.
04:03They thought I was a student wearing an abaya.
04:05I was like, what?
04:05Because I was too young running around.
04:06You were really young, yeah.
04:08But it shaped me.
04:10It shaped...
04:11I used to go home and cry.
04:13It was so overwhelming sometimes.
04:16I had to be strict where I couldn't.
04:19I had to kind of, you know, third graders, you know, tone them down, focus on them.
04:26And I had zero experience of teaching previously.
04:29So it was a learning experience.
04:32And then 10 years after that, I felt I needed change.
04:36And that's when I got an interview at Her Highness's executive office.
04:41And I was offered...
04:44It actually started as...
04:46So Her Highness wants to do a children film festival.
04:50At that time, Abu Dhabi Film Festival was still happening.
04:52DIFF was still happening.
04:53But the way Her Highness wanted it, her vision was completely different.
04:57It was focused on the children, focusing on their skills, films for them, about them, by them.
05:05Um, it wasn't as well easy.
05:07It was a, you know, starting everything from scratch.
05:10So we decided to start an organization, a media arts organization,
05:17that will have the festival as a project.
05:21Okay.
05:22So we launched that at the beginning.
05:26And then the festival was launched on in 2013.
05:29So the festival was like the byproduct of...
05:32Yes.
05:33...the council that you created.
05:35And is that council FUN?
05:37FUN, yes.
05:37Okay, nice.
05:39So just so that our listeners who aren't familiar maybe with FUN,
05:44can you explain more about what you do in the actual council?
05:48So FUN, our mission is to be the leading media arts platform
05:55in Sharjah and hopefully in the UAE.
05:58So we're very focused on media arts.
06:01So it's not only filmmaking, it's animation, photography, graphic design.
06:05And obviously with everything that's coming up,
06:08we try to keep up with what's trending, what's new, type of photography.
06:16So let's say now most of them do, you know, filmmaking with phones.
06:20Right.
06:20So we try and introduce whatever is new in these workshops.
06:26Okay.
06:26And then other than the workshops, we also do, let's say, mentorship programs
06:32with, you know, the pioneers in the industry as well.
06:35We do different kinds of events other than the film festival
06:38because the film festival is focused on films and filmmaking.
06:42Exactly.
06:42So we try to kind of...
06:43So we had an event called for Sharjah, it's called Anime.
06:48We had a VGX, we had an SFX event.
06:51So we try and focus on different types of media arts throughout the year as well.
06:59So that's what we do.
07:00And what I like about Sharjah, it's everyone is focused on what they do.
07:04So there's no clashing.
07:07So we have the Sharjah Art Foundation, for example,
07:09that's focused on, you know, arts and classical arts and, you know, all of that.
07:13We are focused on media arts.
07:15And then let's say women's sports is focused on sports.
07:18So that kind of gives everyone the space to grow in their own field.
07:24Yes.
07:24I'm just, I'm really fascinated by FUN and by CIFF in general,
07:31because I feel like we seldom hear, you know, about organizations
07:35or about initiatives that encourage creative skills in children
07:41and gives them a platform to explore those skills.
07:44I feel like that's crucial because it helps them build their confidence.
07:48It helps them explore, you know, different areas of creativity.
07:54It helps them grow.
07:55It helps them interact.
07:56It helps them network.
07:58It helps them get exposed to so much more than what they learn in a classroom.
08:01And I feel like that is a crucial learning experience.
08:05And honestly, it's fascinating what you're doing right now.
08:09I enjoyed the fact that you were saying, you know,
08:13you were into English and literature and poetry, which is also a form of art.
08:18And before we get into, you know, more of the details about CIFF and FUN,
08:24I wanted to know, like, do you still, you know, express,
08:28you know, your creativity in that form of art?
08:32I don't have as much time as I used to as a mom of three and a full time job.
08:38But yes, I still, I do.
08:41I still write, not as much.
08:43Okay.
08:44But yes, I still do that.
08:46And I still read.
08:48Okay.
08:48I am like, and people might hate me for saying that,
08:53but I'm always with actual books.
08:55I like the smell.
08:56No, I don't hate you for that.
08:58I agree.
08:59Not Kindle, not eBooks.
09:00I don't have that connection with them.
09:03I would wake up in the middle of the night,
09:06turn on the lamp, continue my book if I'm that intrigued in it.
09:09Yes.
09:10And I feel it's my thing.
09:14You know, I'm in my own bubble.
09:16You know, people go shopping sometimes.
09:18Yes.
09:18People go out.
09:19I would sit and read and be over the moon when I do that.
09:23I agree with you 100%.
09:24It's a book for me.
09:25I need to feel the pages.
09:26I need to put a bookmark in it.
09:29Bookmark, exactly, yes.
09:30Exactly.
09:30Sometimes, which people will hate me for, I'll underline certain, like...
09:35I do that.
09:35...areas of a book.
09:36Yes.
09:36People sometimes like to keep a book intact,
09:38but I'm the kind of person that likes to take notes and like underline
09:41and like my favorite passage in a book.
09:44Or comment or highlight in different colors.
09:47And you know what I like to do?
09:48I have a library in my parents' house.
09:51Nice.
09:52What I do is whenever I'm done with any book,
09:54if it has touched me, if it had made me cry,
09:58if it had changed me, I would go and put it there.
10:01Nice.
10:02Other books might, you know, you just read them.
10:04It's a good book.
10:05I would maybe donate them or, you know, recycle them or something.
10:08But I always have that library where I can always go back
10:13and reread these books over and over again.
10:15You're preserving the good ones, kind of.
10:16Yes.
10:17All right.
10:18So going back to CIFF, you mentioned this while you were introducing it.
10:23You were saying it's for the youth and by the youth
10:25or for the children and by the children.
10:27Can you explain a bit more about that?
10:29I thought maybe that it was just, you know,
10:31children submitting their films.
10:34Are there other categories maybe?
10:36Okay.
10:36So when we first started CIFF, as I said,
10:40Her Highness's vision was to do that for the children.
10:44And it's more children.
10:48It was more children focused.
10:49So it was the first children film festival in the UAE
10:52and in the region at that time.
10:55And then after us, Ajiyal started in Qatar.
10:58Okay.
10:59So first year into the festival, I remember it so well.
11:04It was only film screenings, nothing happening.
11:07Okay.
11:08At all.
11:08Just film screenings, no workshops, no nothing.
11:11Because I needed people to understand what a film festival is.
11:15So people called and said,
11:16so is the Dubai Film Festival coming to Sharjah?
11:19No.
11:20Oh, are these the films in the cinema, Disney, Pixar?
11:23No.
11:24Okay.
11:24These are international films made by and for children.
11:30Wow.
11:31So then they have short films.
11:33They have different kinds of animated films.
11:36They have documentary films.
11:39They have feature films, live action.
11:43So that whole media literacy was an important point to start with.
11:50You know.
11:50Absolutely.
11:51And we had a lot of, I won't say conflict,
11:55but we always have this post-CIF event, the meeting.
12:00So we sit there and we say, well, what went wrong?
12:03Yeah.
12:03Don't tell me everyone liked the venue.
12:07We need to know what went wrong.
12:08And we had a lot of parents coming in and saying,
12:12oh, what is this type of film?
12:14My kid will be influenced.
12:16And I remember that so well.
12:18At that time, my son was six years old.
12:20Okay.
12:20And a woman walked out and said, no.
12:22So the child in the film ate some pebbles.
12:25And now my child is going to go home and eat some pebbles.
12:27But you like ruined my kid's life.
12:29And I remember looking at her and said,
12:31now in this generation, they're exposed to everything.
12:35I cannot, as a mom, I cannot depend on media or schools.
12:40I have to have a role as well.
12:42At that time, my son used to live in costumes.
12:46Spider-Man, Superman, in bed, in the plane, in the mall,
12:50at home, in school.
12:51And I remember so well donating his clothes.
12:55They don't fit him with their tags.
12:57But as a mom, I cannot say, you know what?
13:00I'm never letting him watch any superhero film.
13:04Because he eventually will.
13:06And by me saying no, it will make him want to watch that.
13:10And no more.
13:11So it's my role saying, watch.
13:13But you know what?
13:14You can't climb on buildings.
13:16You can't fly.
13:17So that's me saying this is.
13:20And I still say that until now.
13:22My son is now 13.
13:24So I can not say, you know what?
13:26Don't smoke.
13:28Don't.
13:28It's not good for you.
13:29Why?
13:29Just don't.
13:31Now it's the power of media where you showcase
13:36what happens if that thing happens.
13:39What will happen to you if, for example,
13:41you go and get to know a different group of friends
13:44that are not helpful.
13:46That we cannot hide them anymore from the reality of life.
13:51So it took us a bit of time for people to understand all of that.
13:54And eventually, and I remember, I think five years in,
13:57we said, so any parents issues?
13:59They were like, no.
14:02And I actually saw, I remember a family every single day.
14:05And I looked at her and I said, I've seen you yesterday and today.
14:08And you come in every day.
14:09She's like, yes, I use you as a reward.
14:12I say, OK, you want to go to the festival?
14:14Finish your homework.
14:15And they do.
14:15Oh, that's so they can come and visit.
14:17Nice.
14:18And so with time, you know, people kind of understood more.
14:21It was so weird for them to sit and watch a French film
14:24or a Korean film or a Japanese in its actual language.
14:28What are we doing?
14:29But then with time, the minds are open.
14:32And that was when we were just focused on children.
14:35Now, as His Highness has instructed us to kind of, you know,
14:40expand it to have youth and youth, as they say, is up to 30.
14:43Which is great.
14:45Which is amazing.
14:46Always good.
14:46Which gives us even a bigger kind of pool, you know, to talk about different.
14:51And I would say, unfortunately, but the world we live in now,
14:56now my children need to know what a refugee is.
14:59Yes.
14:59My children need to understand that other countries are in hunger.
15:07That, you know, they have to see everything.
15:11And they have to understand, how can I be?
15:15How can I make a difference?
15:16Exactly.
15:16We always, almost every year, screen films by refugees.
15:22Wow.
15:23About refugees, just to kind of highlight, you know, this issue.
15:27And as well, if my son or my daughter sees a film made by a refugee,
15:32if he can do it, can't you?
15:34And I remember they used the road lamp as lighting.
15:38And really, really kind of, you know, torn out.
15:42But they produced a film.
15:44Yeah.
15:44And, you know, it had a message.
15:46Yes.
15:46And it made a difference.
15:48Yes.
15:48So, you know, it's that, it's where we are now,
15:51where it's not about watching a film and, you know, laughing and just leaving.
15:56It's always about making a difference.
15:58We have a lot of things where we need to highlight and speak about mental health,
16:04bullying, pollution, sustainability.
16:07So we need the power of film to talk about all of that.
16:10Agreed.
16:11I think that last sentence is what I want to highlight the most.
16:14The power of film.
16:15I feel like we do tend to shield our children from a lot of things, which is okay.
16:21But there's also a way of, you know,
16:24allowing them to face the bitter reality without making it negative.
16:28Yes.
16:29With encouraging them to get positive outcomes out of it by helping out,
16:35by, you know, getting inspired.
16:38They see refugees, you know, creating these films and they think,
16:42okay, well, why can't I do that?
16:44Or why shouldn't I do that?
16:45And maybe they produce films that shed light on another social issue or a world issue
16:53that we need to talk about.
16:54That's a conversation starter.
16:56Mentioning these films, do you have any in mind that you want to highlight?
16:59Like any of these that stood out to you?
17:01Farha stood out so much.
17:04It was really, really very touching.
17:08Okay.
17:08And I remember a film, it was a Korean film that we watched in Cannes.
17:14It was about a teacher who wanted to save a school.
17:20Okay.
17:20So it was, they wanted to, you know, tear it down.
17:24But it had like nine students and they said,
17:26so if you get up to 15 and they maintain a whole school year, we won't close it.
17:31And I remember crying so much because, you know,
17:33I was a teacher once, so it kind of pulled my...
17:36It hit home.
17:37Exactly.
17:37And I remember asking my, when we got it to CIF and we screened it,
17:41and I remember asking my mom to watch it.
17:45Yeah.
17:45And until today, she calls and says, do you still have that Korean film?
17:48It was like, no.
17:49And you know, it's like, we have to pay for rights and screening fees.
17:52She's like, I'll pay.
17:53I want my team to watch it.
17:55It's very touching.
17:56And that was like seven years ago.
17:58Wow.
17:58But some films do actually, you know, make a difference.
18:02And yes, and touch your heart.
18:04What about Farha?
18:05What's that about?
18:07It's about a Palestinian girl who was not allowed to learn or to go to school.
18:15And then it talked about, and it's based on a true story.
18:20But, you know, sometimes there are films that talk about a specific thing,
18:25but make you think of the whole picture.
18:27You know, make you read about the history,
18:29make you read about what happened, what will happen, you know, the reality of stuff.
18:36So it was really, really very touching.
18:39The thing is, we're always excited every year because the films are always new.
18:43Yes.
18:44So we screen around 80 to 100 films per year.
18:48So that's 80 new films to watch every year.
18:50Yeah.
18:51Yeah.
18:51And honestly, you're giving people the platform to have their voice heard.
18:56These films would be unseen and would be unheard of if it wasn't for your platform.
19:02And I think that's crucial because that gets the message across to everyone else.
19:08So tapping into the logistics of CIFF, how does one apply?
19:12Like, what is the criteria?
19:15How can I contribute to the whole, you know, film festival?
19:20So what we do is every year we start the call of submissions in January.
19:24Okay.
19:24So everything's on our website.
19:26We open the call.
19:28Obviously, we have the normal, you know, rules and regulations of each film, you know, year of production.
19:35Obviously, you know, being from an Arab Muslim country, we have to put these, you know,
19:41nothing to do, nothing anti-Islam, nothing anti-cultural and all of that.
19:46And then what we also do, we have films, we have categories.
19:50So we have, you know, documentaries, films made by students, films, animation films.
19:56So we have specific rules and regulations for each one.
19:59We obviously have the competition as well at the end of the festival where we have,
20:04you know, a jury that choose the winners.
20:08Something that we're really proud of is the best child made film.
20:13The jury are young children and youth.
20:17So selected by the children.
20:19Exactly.
20:19So we started that a couple of years ago and it was,
20:23and the way and what I like about it is when I see that it's,
20:28you take that person, you teach them media literacy, media criticism and all of that.
20:34But you see how their personality changes throughout the seven days.
20:39We have a lot of tears at the end and, you know, we miss this and it made a difference.
20:44And then they come out with either wanting to, you know,
20:47make a film or be part of the industry.
20:50So this year we have a number as well.
20:53And we found like two or three from our last year's jury came into the workshop and said,
20:59do you need any help?
21:00We will, you know, kind of give you hints and we'll support you.
21:04So, you know, that kind of community is what we want to start.
21:07Yes, yes.
21:08So you said you started from January.
21:10Do you have like a rough number of like how many submissions?
21:13Almost near 2,000 submissions per year from more than 50, 60 countries around the world.
21:19Wow, that's phenomenal.
21:22And that has been achieved in how many years?
21:26CIF has, this is the...
21:2710th edition this year.
21:28You were saying, yeah.
21:29So that's 2,000 per year.
21:31Wow.
21:32Around 1,500 to 2,000.
21:35So that's a lot of films to watch.
21:36That's fantastic.
21:37And in different languages.
21:39So they come in in different languages.
21:40It's around 30 to 40 countries, if not more.
21:44Okay.
21:44Now what we're trying to do, and I remember doing that, we had the map.
21:48Okay.
21:49And said, so we have film submissions from Egypt, we have from, you know, the UK, France.
21:55So I asked the team, where, who didn't submit to CIF?
22:02Go find filmmakers from there and let them submit.
22:05And they look at me like, no, but everyone did.
22:07I was like, go check.
22:08So they find countries that they can't even pronounce.
22:12And, you know, so we had a film submission this year from Bhutan.
22:15Oh.
22:15First ever.
22:17And, you know, the Congo, I think, as well, this year.
22:20Fantastic.
22:20So I was like, go and find filmmakers.
22:23And it's very interesting when you meet these people.
22:25And we meet a lot of international people.
22:30And the way they talk about, you know, the festival, the importance of the festival,
22:35the culture of Sharjah, you know, how everyone is, you know, that we feel like we're home.
22:42So, you know, it's a chance to kind of showcase our emirate, tell people what we do.
22:47And, you know, and I remember when we first went to Cannes Film Festival.
22:50At that time, we just, I think we were like four or five years into the festival.
22:54And, you know, we had to say, and, you know, the market there is huge.
22:58Of course.
22:58So, you know, we used to go production house to production house and, you know, introduce.
23:03So, you know, we're from Sharjah.
23:04And they look at us as if, you know, Dubai, we're next to Dubai.
23:06You know, we had to do all that.
23:08Now, when we go, we don't need to because everyone knows us.
23:11Most of them, 80% submit to our festivals.
23:15We have like until yesterday, I've had calls asked from people from around the world wanting
23:19to be on our jury.
23:21Oh, that's nice.
23:22So now we're women on the team.
23:24So we're done.
23:25Yeah, you know, months back.
23:26Yeah, no last minute.
23:28Exactly.
23:28We're very organized.
23:29Too organized sometimes.
23:32And we had a lot of really good names on our jury.
23:38We had Anika Noni Rose.
23:40We had Haifa Mansour, Hani Abu Asad, Will Smith, all of them on our jury and a lot of,
23:47you know, local and international talent in the industry.
23:52We highlighted a lot of speakers that, you know, for example, we had Jacob Tremblay.
24:01As a speaker, we had Neil Setty from The Jungle Book.
24:04We had the girl who played Maleficent, Elizabeth Malloy.
24:09Last year, we premiered The Secret Garden.
24:13So the girl who played the lead was also Dixie.
24:17Dixie was there.
24:18So we kind of highlight, you know, someone who's in between the child and youth age to
24:24speak about.
24:25Freddie Highmore is a very big supporter of the festival.
24:29And we had as well, what's his name, Naif Al-Mutawwa, the creator of The 99.
24:38So a lot of, and I love it how they believe in, you know, the power of the film festival,
24:46what difference they can make and, you know, and talking about their, how they became who
24:51they are.
24:52So it's not an easy journey and which, you know, makes a difference.
24:56Exactly.
24:56It makes a difference to believe in the cause, to be able to, you know, actually, exactly
25:01be part of it and for people to believe you.
25:04Because if you don't believe it, people will see through that.
25:06Of course.
25:06And especially the children.
25:08I mean, children these days are very aware and they're very involved.
25:12I love the fact that, you know, there are jury members that are children and the children
25:16are involved in the logistics of the film festival because a lot of kids these days,
25:21and I remember I was like this when I was younger, I want to do things like I don't
25:25want people to treat me like a child and giving them that autonomy and that power
25:31is, is, I mean, it's, I mean, I don't know what else can, can make them feel like they
25:38are capable.
25:40Yes.
25:41It just makes them feel so capable to do anything and everything and giving them that push is,
25:46is great preparation for the world.
25:48They feel like, okay, I'm prepared now.
25:50Like I've done.
25:50And also, there's also one thing we, because, you know, we have a lot of submissions.
25:54So obviously some of them are rejected.
25:56What we do as well as any film submitted by a child or a young filmmaker.
26:03Yeah.
26:03Something like something around up to 18 year old.
26:06We just, we do not just send a rejection email, especially the ones that are here in the UAE.
26:11We, we organize like a session and we explain to them why your film was not accepted.
26:18What can you do differently?
26:21What, you know, it's not about, you know, rejection.
26:24No, we're there to inspire them and give them skills and help them and say, you know, we can,
26:28you know, please come back and submit again.
26:30And, and I saw in a way that last year in our last edition, we have a green carpet,
26:36not a red carpet.
26:37Oh, you know, how come if you don't mind me asking?
26:40Well, it was, we wanted to stay away from the red carpet.
26:43So it's not about the, you know, the flashy lights and the glam and everything.
26:47No.
26:48So we thought if, you know, and our logo is green.
26:51So I said, why not the green carpet?
26:53So we have that.
26:55And so I realized as I was standing there, you know, welcoming guests,
26:59a lot of young filmmakers were walking and talking to media and, you know,
27:04being thankful that, you know, they're either filmmakers or actors or, you know,
27:08being part of that film.
27:09So that, you know, made my heart full.
27:11Yeah.
27:12And I was like, okay, we're on the right track.
27:14Slowly, but surely.
27:15Exactly.
27:16Exactly.
27:16Okay.
27:17I don't want to take up more of your time.
27:19I know you're a very busy woman, and I know your schedule is full,
27:23and we really appreciate your time.
27:25My last question is, what's next for Sheikha Jawahar on the side?
27:30And then what's next for SIF or FEN?
27:34Okay, so I'll start with FEN and SIF, obviously.
27:38Now, the funny thing is, the festival is happening in less than a month.
27:43Okay.
27:44But now we know what's going to happen in 2024.
27:46What will we launch in 2024?
27:48What's different in 2024?
27:51How can we make it better?
27:53So obviously, we always were like one step ahead.
28:00For this year, we started a trial of international youth and children jury.
28:10So we have one from Syria.
28:12Okay.
28:13And one from Oman.
28:14And we'll see how it goes.
28:16And then we'll open it to a bigger international jury in the future.
28:20Oh, fantastic.
28:21So it's interesting.
28:22And as I say, because we are a 90% women team,
28:26so very precise, very organized, slowly but surely.
28:31And we're always, take it one step at a time.
28:34Don't do 100 when you can do two and see how it goes.
28:37And then take it from there.
28:39Yeah, it's very calculated.
28:41It's very organized, as you were saying.
28:44Okay, and what's next for Shaykha Jawahar?
28:46Well, hopefully, my dream was always to have a flower shop.
28:52Since I was, what, maybe 12?
28:55Oh, okay.
28:56I was so into gift wrapping and gift giving and, you know, making people happy.
29:02And flowers did that for me as well.
29:04And everyone I know who's close to me knows that.
29:08So every time they see something that's relevant,
29:10they would, you know, send it on Instagram or message me and say,
29:12come on, it's your turn.
29:14Okay.
29:14So I'm hoping for the next couple of years, I'll focus on that as well.
29:18Oh, that's lovely.
29:19That's very lovely.
29:20Do you plant yourself?
29:21Like, do you actually like the gardening and...
29:24A little bit here and there.
29:25It's not easy.
29:26Okay, it's not.
29:27At all, especially with our weather, you know, you need to know.
29:29But I'm more of the beauty of flowers, you know, walking into a place, how it's...
29:36And I have a lot of attention to detail.
29:39So for example, if I'm giving a gift, I love to make it personal.
29:43You know, your favorite color.
29:45Something that's related to something that you like, you know.
29:50Very nice.
29:50I try that.
29:51Very nice.
29:52Sheikha Jawahar, thank you so much.
29:54We'd love to have you back.
29:56You were saying the SIF is going to be, is going to begin...
29:5922nd of October up to the 28th.
30:02So the opening will be on 22nd and then 23rd to the 28th.
30:06It's a full week of, you know, films and panels and workshops and fun.
30:10Fantastic.
30:11We'll stay tuned.
30:12Thank you so much.
30:13Thank you so much.