Front-row at SIBF 2025: Will Smith delivers his most honest talk yet

The main hall of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2025) was already buzzing long before Will Smith arrived — but the moment the Hollywood icon stepped inside, the energy shifted into something almost electric. Hundreds of fans erupted into cheers, held their phones high, and stretched across the aisles just to shake his hand as he walked through the crowd in a crisp white shirt and his trademark smile.

Daily News Hungary was on location at the sold-out evening session, witnessing firsthand the tidal wave of excitement that greeted the 57-year-old actor as he took the stage at Expo Centre Sharjah for his talk, “The Power of Storytelling.”

It didn’t take long for Smith to turn the starstruck atmosphere into something deeper, more reflective — and, at times, disarmingly intimate.

A rare mix of charisma and introspection

Smith began with stories from his four-decade career, speaking with openness about personal reinvention, emotional resilience and the hidden parts of himself he feels he has yet to show the world.

Moments before going on stage, Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority, presented him with a signed copy of her new book. Smith later told the audience this exchange “sparked something profound.”

“I realised I have never been brave enough to say that I have dreams and visions too. What drives me now is trying to find the courage to fully express myself,” he said.

His reflections set the tone for an evening that blended humour, vulnerability and hard-earned wisdom.

The emotional legacy of The Pursuit of Happyness

Speaking about the film he still considers the heart of his career, Smith shared rare behind-the-scenes anecdotes from shooting The Pursuit of Happyness with his son, Jaden. The actor described the intense emotional preparation required to portray a father fighting for dignity and stability.

“This film reminds us what hope, resilience and love can achieve,” he said.
“At its core, it’s about love — love for family, love for our dreams, and the determination to keep going when everything seems impossible.”

Smith added that to this day he receives letters from people who found strength in the film during their darkest moments.

Will Smith: “Write your own story” — A message for young creators

The audience was filled with students, aspiring writers and first-time creators — a demographic Smith directly addressed.

“Everyone has a story worth telling. Storytelling is a superpower. It can move people, change minds, even reshape the world.”

He urged young people not just to tell stories, but to do so with intention and responsibility in an era where voices can spread faster and farther than ever before.

The Middle East: a creative treasure waiting to be explored

Smith lit up when he spoke about the region, calling the Middle East one of the world’s richest but most underexplored storytelling landscapes.