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The Sharjah International Photography Festival, Xposure 2025, is placing cinema at the center of its program with a comprehensive film schedule and expanded workshops focused on filmmaking. According to an official announcement, Xposure cinema programming presents film as a visual language capable of deep expression and human impact, creating a complete space for visual storytelling that extends beyond traditional photography.
The festival’s cinema program brings together documentary films, short films, animated works, and feature-length productions from around the world. The selection emphasizes human stories, social memory, cultural identity, environmental awareness, and personal experiences, the organizers said.
International Film Screenings at Xposure 2025
The screening schedule features a diverse range of notable works from multiple continents. According to the program, the Portuguese documentary “Wildlife of the Côa Valley” screened on Friday, while the Sudanese drama “Goodbye Julia” is scheduled for February 4.
Additionally, the program includes films that pose profound questions about identity and displacement. “Blood of the Afrikaner,” which screened Friday, examines identity issues in post-apartheid South Africa. Meanwhile, the documentary “Heart of Stone,” scheduled for February 1, chronicles the journey of a young Afghan refugee in France.
Human Stories and Refugee Experiences
Several documentaries explore emotional bonds and migration narratives. “Milk Brothers,” screening February 1, highlights human and emotional connections, the festival program indicates. Similarly, “You Will Be Swedish, My Daughter,” also on February 1, follows a Syrian family living in Sweden as they recount their refugee journey.
Other films address historical memory and humanitarian perspectives. “Lyd,” screening February 2, reexamines past and present narratives. In contrast, “Farfour: War Diaries from Gaza,” scheduled for February 3, presents human scenes of a child living amid war while clinging to his cat as a companion through destruction.
Environmental and Wildlife Documentaries
Environmental narratives feature prominently in the Xposure cinema program through nature-focused productions. “Wild Isles – Grasslands,” screening February 3, follows renowned explorer David Attenborough through cinematographer Simon King’s lens. The film highlights the delicate interconnection between creatures and nature, according to the festival description.
Photography Festival Expands into Filmmaking
The integration of cinema into Xposure 2025 represents an evolution for the international photography festival. By incorporating filmmaking workshops alongside screenings, the event creates opportunities for visual artists to explore motion as an extension of still photography. However, the festival maintains its core focus on visual storytelling across multiple mediums.
The cinema program’s emphasis on documentary filmmaking aligns with photography’s documentary traditions. Both mediums share common ground in capturing reality, preserving memory, and communicating complex narratives through visual means. The expanded workshops provide practical training in film production techniques for photographers interested in transitioning to moving images.
Cultural Identity and Social Issues
Many films in the Xposure cinema selection explore themes of cultural identity and social transformation. The diverse geographic origins of the featured works—from Portugal and Sudan to Sweden and Palestine—reflect the festival’s international scope. These selections offer audiences perspectives on contemporary global challenges including conflict, migration, and environmental change.
The programming choices demonstrate a curatorial approach that values authentic human experiences over commercial entertainment. By focusing on independent documentaries and art-house productions, the festival provides a platform for underrepresented voices and stories that might not reach mainstream audiences through conventional distribution channels.
Festival organizers have not announced whether the cinema program will continue in future editions of Xposure or if additional screening dates will be added to the 2025 schedule. The reception to this year’s expanded film programming will likely influence the festival’s future direction and the balance between photography and cinema content.
