emirates7 - The third annual Sharjah Animation Conference (SAC 2025) concluded on Sunday, further cementing its reputation as a major hub for animation in the region. This year’s event welcomed 5,600 attendees from around the globe.
Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), the conference brought together 74 influential figures—ranging from award-winning Disney animators to pioneering storytellers and gaming experts—representing 18 countries across Asia, the Americas, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
A highlight of SAC 2025 was its $20,000 awards programme, where SBA CEO Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri and SAC Artistic Director Pietro Pinetti presented two key honours: the “Book Trailer Award,” which celebrates excellence in visual literary storytelling, and the “Pitch the Project Award,” which recognises original animated concepts inspired by cultural narratives for children.
The conference also paid tribute to outstanding contributions in animation. A posthumous lifetime achievement award was presented to legendary character designer Masami Suda, creator of iconic works such as *Dragon Ball*, with his wife Chuda Suda accepting the award. Additionally, international animator Sandro Cleuzo received the SAC Ambassador award for his continued support and role in advancing the conference’s global reach.
Executive Director of SAC, Khoula Al Mujaini, credited the event’s success to the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi and the leadership of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi. She described SAC as a rapidly expanding platform for publishers, creators, broadcasters, and industry professionals to connect, collaborate, and bring ideas to life. Al Mujaini also stressed the importance of staying responsive to technological advances in animation and highlighted the conference’s role in bridging emerging talent with industry veterans to foster continuous learning and cross-border collaboration.
SAC 2025 offered an expansive agenda looking ahead to the future of digital animation. Over four days, it hosted more than 35 workshops and 29 panels and roundtables covering key topics such as character design, storytelling, illustration, scripting, AI, and digital technologies.
Industry leaders shared behind-the-scenes insights into the making of iconic characters and scenes, offering attendees access to advanced animation techniques. The programme also spotlighted successful adaptations of literature into animated films and series, offering a valuable educational experience for creators.
The event served as a vibrant meeting point for professionals to share ideas and address core challenges facing the industry, such as building local production capabilities and enhancing global content distribution.
Women played a key role at the conference, with leading female animators and creatives sharing their experiences and showcasing impactful projects on the international stage.
The closing ceremony honoured creative storytelling with the Book Trailer and Pitch the Project Awards. Ahmed Arnaouty won first place in the Book Trailer category, with Aishwarya Carriappa and Zainab Jebur placing second and third for their visual adaptation of *Dooq Dooq* by Shereen Sabbagh.
In the Pitch the Project category, Mohammed Jandali earned top honours for his animated concept rooted in cultural traditions. Abdalla Almunajad and Eslam Aboshady took second and third place, respectively.
Cultural celebration was a defining feature of SAC 2025. The Florence Pops Orchestra from Italy delivered live performances throughout the event, including a closing concert featuring iconic animated film scores. Attendees enjoyed Disney classics from *The Lion King* and *Frozen*, as well as a moving tribute to Studio Ghibli with Joe Hisaishi’s music from *Spirited Away* and *My Neighbour Totoro*.
On the second evening, Bait Alowal hosted a special networking gathering for industry stakeholders to explore partnerships. Across all four days, curated film screenings honoured animation’s heritage and its evolving future.
Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), the conference brought together 74 influential figures—ranging from award-winning Disney animators to pioneering storytellers and gaming experts—representing 18 countries across Asia, the Americas, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
A highlight of SAC 2025 was its $20,000 awards programme, where SBA CEO Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri and SAC Artistic Director Pietro Pinetti presented two key honours: the “Book Trailer Award,” which celebrates excellence in visual literary storytelling, and the “Pitch the Project Award,” which recognises original animated concepts inspired by cultural narratives for children.
The conference also paid tribute to outstanding contributions in animation. A posthumous lifetime achievement award was presented to legendary character designer Masami Suda, creator of iconic works such as *Dragon Ball*, with his wife Chuda Suda accepting the award. Additionally, international animator Sandro Cleuzo received the SAC Ambassador award for his continued support and role in advancing the conference’s global reach.
Executive Director of SAC, Khoula Al Mujaini, credited the event’s success to the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi and the leadership of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi. She described SAC as a rapidly expanding platform for publishers, creators, broadcasters, and industry professionals to connect, collaborate, and bring ideas to life. Al Mujaini also stressed the importance of staying responsive to technological advances in animation and highlighted the conference’s role in bridging emerging talent with industry veterans to foster continuous learning and cross-border collaboration.
SAC 2025 offered an expansive agenda looking ahead to the future of digital animation. Over four days, it hosted more than 35 workshops and 29 panels and roundtables covering key topics such as character design, storytelling, illustration, scripting, AI, and digital technologies.
Industry leaders shared behind-the-scenes insights into the making of iconic characters and scenes, offering attendees access to advanced animation techniques. The programme also spotlighted successful adaptations of literature into animated films and series, offering a valuable educational experience for creators.
The event served as a vibrant meeting point for professionals to share ideas and address core challenges facing the industry, such as building local production capabilities and enhancing global content distribution.
Women played a key role at the conference, with leading female animators and creatives sharing their experiences and showcasing impactful projects on the international stage.
The closing ceremony honoured creative storytelling with the Book Trailer and Pitch the Project Awards. Ahmed Arnaouty won first place in the Book Trailer category, with Aishwarya Carriappa and Zainab Jebur placing second and third for their visual adaptation of *Dooq Dooq* by Shereen Sabbagh.
In the Pitch the Project category, Mohammed Jandali earned top honours for his animated concept rooted in cultural traditions. Abdalla Almunajad and Eslam Aboshady took second and third place, respectively.
Cultural celebration was a defining feature of SAC 2025. The Florence Pops Orchestra from Italy delivered live performances throughout the event, including a closing concert featuring iconic animated film scores. Attendees enjoyed Disney classics from *The Lion King* and *Frozen*, as well as a moving tribute to Studio Ghibli with Joe Hisaishi’s music from *Spirited Away* and *My Neighbour Totoro*.
On the second evening, Bait Alowal hosted a special networking gathering for industry stakeholders to explore partnerships. Across all four days, curated film screenings honoured animation’s heritage and its evolving future.