Under the patronage of Future University and under the supervision of its President, Professor Dr. Hassan Shakir Majdi, the activities of the 6th Babylon Animation Film Festival commenced on the university campus, featuring broad Arab and international participation. The opening ceremony was attended by Dr. Ali Al-Shallah, Director of the Babylon International Festival of Cultures and Arts, alongside a distinguished group of artists, writers, intellectuals, and cinema enthusiasts. The cultural and artistic event is scheduled to continue over two days. The festival featured a collection of animated films representing several Arab and foreign countries, including Egypt, Russia, the Republic of Tatarstan, Ukraine, Tunisia, Lebanon, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Palestine, and the Sultanate of Oman, reflecting the cultural and artistic diversity of this edition. The opening ceremony began with the Iraqi national anthem, followed by a speech on behalf of Future University, delivered by Professor Dr. Muzaffar Sadiq Al-Zuhairi, Director of Scientific and Academic Supervision, representing the University President, Professor Dr. Hassan Shakir Majdi. In his speech, he welcomed the distinguished guests, participating delegations, artists, and writers, expressing the university’s pride in hosting this cultural event. He also emphasized the university’s commitment to supporting creativity and hosting activities that contribute to revitalizing the cultural and cinematic movement and strengthening communication and cooperation among creative professionals from Iraq, Arab countries, and other nations. The opening ceremony also included a speech by the festival’s president, Professor Dr. Amer Sabah Al-Marzouk, who highlighted the importance of the festival in supporting animation cinema and providing a platform for filmmakers to showcase their creative works and exchange artistic experiences and expertise, thereby contributing to the development of this art form and enhancing its presence in the cultural and cinematic scene. The morning session featured screenings of 14 films from Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Tunisia, Egypt, and Morocco. The evening program included an intellectual seminar entitled “Artificial Intelligence and Animation Filmmaking,” alongside screenings of 17 participating films. These activities highlighted recent technological developments and their implications for the future of animation filmmaking. The festival also included a ceremony honoring Future University and the President of the Babylon International Festival of Cultures and Arts in recognition of their efforts to support cultural and artistic activities and contribute to the success of this event. The festival’s activities will continue on the second day with a book-signing event and cinematic screenings celebrating Egyptian animation schools, marking 90 years of Arab animation cinema. The program will also include honoring participants and festival committees, reading the closing statement, announcing the results, and presenting awards to the winners. Future University’s sponsorship of this festival reflects its active role in supporting cultural and artistic activities, fostering creative initiatives, and promoting cultural exchange among artists, intellectuals, and filmmakers from different countries. These efforts contribute to enriching Iraq’s cultural landscape and reinforcing Babylon Governorate’s position as a prominent beacon of culture and the arts. Future University Ranks First Among Private Universities in Iraq.
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