FUNN, the Sharjah-based organization that promotes and supports media arts learning for children and the youth, has announced launched its Filmmaking Workshop. Presented by SAE Institute, the workshop will take place every Saturday until 20th April in FUNN’s main office at the Supreme Council for Family Affairs.

This year, Sharjah Youth and Sharjah Media City (Shams) have joined hands with FUNN to hold this engaging and informative Filmmaking Workshop, that aims to equip the participants with the basic knowledge required to produce a short film, along with related skills, including screenwriting, directing, producing, cinematography, and basic computer editing, which will be taught on a leading industry application.

The comprehensive workshop will familiarize participants with three stages of production, as well as a range of industry applications that are used in professional filmmaking. The participants will also be given a chance to contribute and test their skills in a short film production during the workshop.

Sheikha Jawaher bint Abdullah Al Qasimi, Director of FUNN and Sharjah International Children and Youth Film Festival, said, “We are committed to empowering children and youth of Sharjah and the UAE with the best of relevant skills and training in creative fields like filmmaking. For this purpose, the workshop encompasses detailed and comprehensive coursework that will cover all aspects of modern day filmmaking with a hands-on experience for the participants in the pre and post production processes.”

She added, “This course is important as by learning the intricacies of filmmaking, the participants not only gain the knowledge, they also learn a lot about the world and its realities. As is said, cinema shapes the world, and by giving young minds the tool to make films, we are giving in their hands, the ability to be creative, expressive, and responsible, at the same time. Making films, and being inspired by them, can be big contributors in creating a peaceful and more tolerant world.”

It is notable that the course will take the participants through the various stages in filmmaking like composition and angle placements, storytelling and character developments, creating a shot-list with the completed script, the lighting process, colour correction, and the final edit and exporting the timeline. This course will allow participants to master the craft of telling stories through the camera and go into details of the all-inclusive process that filmmaking is. For young aspirants and children, who want to explore the world of cinema, this Workshop is a perfect start.

FUNN aims to nurture a future generation of creative artists in media and film, and promotes new media works and films made by children and young filmmakers of the UAE at international film festivals, and conferences worldwide. Their larger goal is to foster talent through these festivals, conferences and workshops locally and internationally, and form a close-knit network of talented young people who can share experiences and expertise on a global scale.