DistantNews
Support us
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates /Culture & Society

Sharjah Launches Contest to Turn Arabic Books into Animated Films

From Gulf Today · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • The Book2Screen Challenge will allow Arab publishers to submit novels, graphic novels, children’s books and literary series for possible animation adaptations.
  • Submissions remain open until October 1, with the initiative designed to connect publishers with animation content creators and producers.

Sharjah has launched a new challenge aimed at turning Arabic books into animated films and series.

The Book2Screen Challenge, part of the Sharjah Animation and Comics Conference 2026, gives Arab publishers a chance to explore screen adaptations of their published stories. Selected projects can be developed for presentation to content creators and producers in the animation industry.

Publishers may submit novels, graphic novels, children’s books and literary series. Submissions are open until October 1.

The initiative seeks to build a practical link between publishing and animation by showing how Arabic books can become intellectual property across different forms of content. SACC Executive Director Khoula Al Mujaini said, “Arab publishers have a wealth of stories, characters and worlds that can extend beyond the book.”

Arab publishers have a wealth of stories, characters and worlds that can extend beyond the book.

· Khoula Al MujainiThe SACC executive director described the creative potential of Arabic publishing for screen adaptation.
About this summary

Originally published by Gulf Today in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog