Under the patronage of Al-Mustaqbal University and the supervision of its President, Prof. Dr. Hassan Shakir Majdi, the sixth edition of the Babylon Animation Film Festival commenced on Sunday, 11 October 2026, at the university campus. The two-day festival brought together a distinguished gathering of artists, writers, intellectuals, and cinema enthusiasts, including Dr. Ali Al-Shallah, Director of the Babylon International Festival of Cultures and Arts, and Prof. Dr. Aqeel Handil Tarish, Head of the Department of Community Health Technologies, alongside several academic, cultural, and artistic figures. The festival featured animated films from a diverse range of Arab and international countries, including Egypt, Russia, the Republic of Tatarstan, Ukraine, Tunisia, Lebanon, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Palestine, and the Sultanate of Oman, reflecting the event’s cultural diversity and international artistic scope. The opening ceremony began with the Iraqi national anthem, followed by an address on behalf of the university presidency, delivered by Prof. Dr. Muzaffar Sadiq Al-Zuhairi, Director of Scientific and Academic Supervision, representing the University President, Prof. 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 and artistic event. He also reaffirmed the university’s commitment to supporting creativity and hosting initiatives that enrich cultural and cinematic activities while strengthening communication and cooperation among creative professionals from Iraq and other Arab and international countries. The opening ceremony also featured an address by the festival’s president, Prof. Dr. Amer Sabah Al-Marzouk, who highlighted the festival’s role in supporting animation cinema, providing filmmakers with a platform to exchange artistic experiences and expertise, encouraging creative talent, and contributing to the development of animation as a cinematic art form. The morning session featured screenings of 14 films from Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Tunisia, Egypt, and Morocco. The evening session included an intellectual seminar entitled “Artificial Intelligence and Animation Filmmaking,” alongside screenings of 17 participating films. During the opening ceremony, Al-Mustaqbal University and the President of the Babylon International Festival of Cultures and Arts were honored in recognition of their efforts to support cultural and artistic activities and contribute to the success of creative initiatives. The festival’s second day is scheduled to feature a book-signing ceremony and film screenings celebrating Egyptian animation schools, marking 90 years of Arab animation cinema. The programme will also include honoring participants and festival committees, reading the closing statement, announcing the results, and presenting the awards. Al-Mustaqbal University’s sponsorship of this festival reflects its commitment to supporting cultural and artistic engagement, fostering creative initiatives, and strengthening connections among artists, intellectuals, and filmmakers. These efforts contribute to reinforcing Babylon Governorate’s standing as a beacon of culture and the arts and demonstrate the university’s dedication to initiatives that bring together knowledge, creativity, and cultural exchange. Al-Mustaqbal University The First University in Iraq