Free screenings, conversations, and workshops spotlight animated cinema, groundbreaking science fiction, and defining works of Arab film
Sharjah Art Foundation has announced the launch of Sunday Cinema Club, a new addition to its year-round public programme designed to bring audiences together through shared viewing, discussion, and learning. Running throughout the summer, the weekly film club invites families, cinema lovers, and the wider community to explore a curated selection of films across animation, science fiction, and Arab cinema.
Structured across three thematic chapters, the programme pairs each screening with either a talk or workshop, offering audiences a deeper understanding of cinematic language, historical context, and the social themes explored within each film. By bringing together different cinematic traditions and perspectives, Sunday Cinema Club highlights film’s ability to inspire curiosity, encourage dialogue, and connect generations through storytelling.
Hosted every Sunday at 3:00 PM from 5 July to 30 August 2026 at the Photography Gallery in Al Manakh, Sharjah, the initiative also activates the recently opened venue as a space dedicated to public engagement and cultural exchange.
5–19 July 2026
Opening the programme, this family-focused series presents three celebrated animated films exploring transformation, imagination, and self-discovery. Audiences will experience Song of the Sea (2014) by Tomm Moore, Sirocco and the Kingdom of Winds (2023) by Benoît Chieux, and Mirai (2018) by Mamoru Hosoda , films that reflect how fantasy and imagination can help navigate emotions and life’s challenges.
26 July–9 August 2026
Turning towards cinematic visions of the moon, this three-film programme explores how filmmakers imagined space exploration long before it became reality. The series includes A Cosmic Voyage (1936) by Vassili Zouravlev, recognised for its ambitious Soviet-era portrayal of lunar travel; Journey to the Moon (Rihla Ila Alqamar) (1959) by Hamada Abdel Wahab; and Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), a defining work of science-fiction cinema.
16–30 August 2026
Closing the season, this final chapter explores identity, belonging, and displacement through landmark Arab cinema. Featuring West Beirut (1998) by Ziad Doueiri, Omar Gatlato (1977) by Merzak Allouache, and The Time That Remains (2009) by Elia Suleiman, the programme examines how visual storytelling and cinematic composition reflect personal and collective histories across the region.
With Sunday Cinema Club, Sharjah Art Foundation creates a space where film becomes more than viewing, transforming into a platform for learning, conversation, and cultural connection throughout the summer.
