Sharjah Art Foundation adds another layer to its film education calendar this autumn with a free Become a Film Critic learning workshop at The Flying Saucer in Dasman, led by filmmaker Bentley Brown on Monday 24 November 2025 from 18:00 to 20:00. The session forms part of a short course that also runs on Friday 7 November, Saturday 8 November and Sunday 9 November 2025, giving participants several chances to step into the world of cinema analysis. The workshop takes place in English and targets adults and older teens who want to move beyond casual viewing. It unfolds inside one of Sharjah’s most distinctive cultural venues, positioned at the intersection of several busy neighbourhoods. This is a focused, two hour evening programme that treats film criticism as a serious creative practice rather than casual opinion.
Workshop overview and critical thinking focus
The Become a Film Critic workshop invites participants to treat film watching as an active, reflective act instead of passive entertainment. Over the two hour session, you explore how images, sound and editing choices shape meaning and linger in memory long after the credits roll. Organisers frame the class as an introduction to reading films the way you might read a complex text, paying attention to structure, rhythm and perspective. Participants also learn how to translate impressions into clear, grounded writing rather than quick likes and dislikes. You spend the evening developing a personal critical vocabulary that helps you talk about films with more precision and confidence.
Bentley Brown and his film making background
The workshop is led by Bentley Brown, a filmmaker and scholar whose work moves between documentary and experimental storytelling. He teaches film and media at the American University of Sharjah and screens his work at international festivals, including projects such as Behind the Sun and Guardian of the Well that explore memory, migration and climate. Brown’s experience spans directing, writing and producing, so he approaches criticism from the perspective of someone who knows what happens on both sides of the camera. During the session, he draws on this background to show how critics can read choices in framing, sound and narrative with empathy for the production process. Participants benefit from guidance by a working filmmaker who understands both practice and theory.
Dates course rhythm and session content
While your focus may be Monday 24 November 2025, the full course extends across four evenings on Friday 7 November, Saturday 8 November, Sunday 9 November and Monday 24 November, always from 18:00 to 20:00 at The Flying Saucer. Each session combines short theory segments with guided discussion and close viewing of selected films from Sharjah Film Platform 8. Participants work through how to structure a review, how to support opinions with concrete details and how to identify recurring themes in a director’s work. By the final session on Monday 24 November, you should feel more comfortable drafting your own critique of one of the films screened during the course. Across the four dates, the workshop builds from basic concepts toward a complete, written film review that reflects your own voice.
Eligibility registration and pricing in AED
Sharjah Art Foundation lists the course as suitable for ages 17 and above and confirms that the working language is English, which keeps the discussions accessible for university students and adults. Participation costs 0 AED, as the workshop is explicitly advertised as free of charge for all registered attendees. Registration still matters, though, because places in The Flying Saucer’s learning pods are limited for this kind of focused seminar setting. Interested participants usually reserve spots through the foundation’s learning channels or by contacting the team on the published phone number 06 568 5050. Although the fee is 0 AED, you should treat registration as essential because capacity is finite and sessions can fill quickly (suitable for solo participants and small creative groups).
Venue character and experience at The Flying Saucer
The Flying Saucer stands at the junction of Sheikh Zayed Street, Al Wahda Street and Sheikh Humaid Bin Saqr Al Qasimi Street in Dasman, Sharjah, making it one of the city’s easiest cultural landmarks to spot. The building, restored by Sharjah Art Foundation, combines exhibition space, community areas, learning pods, a café and a public art library, so the workshop unfolds inside a genuinely multi use art hub rather than a generic hotel room. Before or after the session, you can browse books, grab a coffee or explore current installations, which helps keep the evening from feeling purely classroom based. The circular architecture and glazed façade also give the learning space a distinctive atmosphere, especially after dark when the interior lighting stands out against the street. Expect a relaxed, contemporary environment that supports conversation and reflection rather than a formal lecture hall feel (suitable for solo visitors, couples and small friend groups).
Getting to Dasman from Sharjah Dubai and Ajman
For residents in Sharjah, The Flying Saucer sits a short drive from many central districts, with Dasman, Al Ghubaiba and Al Mansoora all within a few minutes by car. Drivers coming from Dubai usually take E11 toward Sharjah, then follow signs toward Al Wahda Street and continue into Dasman, allowing around 35 to 50 minutes in early evening traffic. From Ajman, the journey often runs along Sheikh Rashid Bin Saqr Al Qasimi Street or E11 before turning toward central Sharjah, taking roughly 25 to 40 minutes depending on congestion. Public buses into Sharjah, especially those serving Al Jubail Bus Station, link to nearby stops from which a short taxi ride completes the trip to the venue. Because early evening traffic can build quickly on Al Wahda Street, aiming to arrive by 17:30 gives you a calmer start to the 18:00 workshop (suitable for solo drivers, ride sharing groups and public transport users).
Parking options and on site comfort
Around The Flying Saucer, visitors generally rely on surrounding street parking and nearby public parking lots in Dasman, rather than a single multi storey structure. Early evening can be busy as residents return home and visitors head to nearby museums and parks, so you may need a few extra minutes to locate a space. Once inside, the venue’s design offers generous circulation space, with seating areas and café corners that work well for pre workshop meetups or post event conversations. The learning rooms themselves are usually equipped with comfortable chairs and writing surfaces, which matters for a session that asks you to take notes and sketch ideas while watching films. Parking capacity in the immediate streets is not huge, so arriving slightly earlier than usual will reduce stress and increase your chances of finding a spot close to the entrance (suitable for solo drivers and small groups).
Weekend weather outlook and clothing suggestions
The weekend leading into the Monday workshop is forecast to stay dry and warm in Sharjah, with hazy sunshine and daytime highs around 33 degrees Celsius on Saturday 22 November and about 32 degrees Celsius on Sunday 23 November 2025. Overnight lows sit near 17 to 18 degrees, and no significant rain or mud risk is indicated for those days or for Monday 24 November itself. Indoors, strong air conditioning keeps The Flying Saucer’s learning spaces cool, which can feel chilly if you sit still for a full two hour session. Light breathable clothing works well for the outdoor walk from your car or taxi, but a thin cardigan or jacket helps once you settle into your seat. Carrying a small bag with a light layer, a water bottle and any personal stationery will keep you comfortable, even though notebooks and pens are already provided at no extra charge (suitable for solo visitors and pairs).
Traffic warnings closing advice and www.few.ae note
On Monday 24 November 2025, evening traffic into Dasman will likely peak between 17:00 and 19:00 along Al Wahda Street and the surrounding junctions, so it is sensible to leave a wider buffer than usual if you are driving from Dubai, Ajman or the outer parts of Sharjah. Taxis and ride hailing services provide a straightforward alternative, typically costing a moderate fare within Sharjah and avoiding the worry of parking, although you should still allow extra travel time during the busiest period. Workshop participation is free, at a clear ticket price of 0 AED, but transport and any café spending will depend on your choices and should be considered approximately variable. Public buses into the city centre combined with a short taxi ride offer a cost effective route for students and younger participants. Make your reservation and plan your route early so heavy traffic, parking pressure or last minute changes do not stop you reaching The Flying Saucer before the opening discussion begins. As film and culture guides at www.few.ae often point out in their coverage, a bit of planning around timing, clothing and logistics usually turns a short evening workshop like Become a Film Critic into a much richer experience for solo film lovers, aspiring writers and creative couples alike.
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