As part of Oman's efforts to realize Oman Vision 2040, a cultural strategy has been developed to enhance arts and culture across the Sultanate of Oman. In 2021, the Ministry of Information launched “Ayn” platform, marking a significant advancement in digital media and aligning with global trends in the industry. The Ayn Short Film Festival, organized by the Ministry's General Directorate of Electronic Media from January 24 to 28, serves as a bridge between Ayn, Oman's largest electronic platform, and Omani filmmakers. This festival aims to foster the local film industry, support both established and emerging professionals, and contribute to the creation of innovative content in Oman. Participants can contribute films in various thematic areas, including good citizenship, tourism, youth and sports, the future of, digital and technical advancements, artificial intelligence, social media's impact, highlighting both positive and negative aspects, Omani culture and identity, science and knowledge, social issues.

The Ministry of Information has launched the first Ayn Short Film Festival with the following objectives:

- Showcase Omani cinema and the cultural artistic movement within the film industry in the Sultanate of Oman.

- Foster creative energies and inspire youth participation in the film industry.

- Promote local content and encourage the production of high-quality professional films.

- Provide a platform to showcase and market the content of young talents locally and globally.

- Facilitate cultural and artistic exchange between Oman and countries worldwide.

- Offer pioneering filmmaking experiences and engage youth in the media industry's messaging.

Target groups

The festival targets all professional, emerging, and aspiring filmmakers in Oman and it is the first film festival on the Ayn platform, which offers filmmakers the opportunity to submit their films across three main categories:

- Short narrative films ranging from 5 to 30 minutes.

- Documentary films ranging from 5 to 30 minutes.

- Children's films ranging from 5 to 15 minutes.

The main committee overseeing the festival has outlined the competition rules based on educational, national, and humanitarian principles, which include:

- Participants must be Omani nationals.

- Participants must serve as either the producer or director of the film and assume full responsibility for intellectual property rights.

- The film, or any part of it, must not have been previously shown, broadcasted, or made available on any television channel, website, mobile phone, or any public platform globally.

- Films must be in Arabic, including all Omani dialects.

- The Ayn platform reserves the right to broadcast the participating films, and registering for the festival constitutes a waiver of rights to the Ayn platform under the Ministry of Information.

- Compliance with legal requirements as specified by a competent team.

The Ministry of Information has allocated OMR 8,000 for the top positions in each category of the festival, along with OMR 1,000 for individual awards. These individual awards include Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Effects, Best Picture, and Best Cinematography Makeup.

In its inaugural session, the Ain Short Film Festival featured numerous accompanying events and participating films. At the closing ceremony, held under the patronage of His Excellency Dr. Abdullah bin Nasser Al Harrasi, Minister of Information, the organizing committee announced the award winners in the festival's three categories: fiction, documentary, and children.

In the festival's major awards, the film "Al-Banjari" directed by Moosa Al-Kindi won the award for best narrative film, and the film "The Omani River" directed by Ayman Al-Numani won the award for best documentary film. Meanwhile, the film "Burning Souls" directed by Yaqoub Al-Khanjari won the award for best children's film.

In the children’s film category, the film “In Her Place” by director Wafa Al-Rashidiya won the Best Screenplay Award, and the film “Burning Souls” won the Best Cinematography Award. Wafa Al-Rashidiya also won the Best Actress Award, while the child Hood Al-Hinai won the Best Actor Award. The Best Editing Award for children's films went to Muhannad Mardi for the film "In Her Place". The award for Best Cinematic Makeup went to Shahad Al Balushi and Layan Al Khatriya for the film "Burning Souls", while Faisal Al Shibli won the award for Best Soundtrack for the film "In Her Place".

In the short narrative films category, Ismail Bin Hilal won the Best Screenplay Award for the movie “Uncertainty,” while Amjad Al Nabhani won the Best Cinematography Award for the movie “The Green Box.” Wafaa Al Rashidiya won the Best Actress Award for the movie “Al Banjari,” and Raed Al Ameri won the Best Actor Award for the movie “Uncertainty.” Ibrahim Al Jassasi and Rehab Adel won the Best Cinematic Makeup Award for the movie “Al Banjari,” and Saeed Al Wahaibi won the Best Editing Award for the movie “Rob.” Faisal Al Shibli won the Best Soundtrack Award for the movie “Al Banjari.”

In the documentary films category, the film “The Irrigated Land” by director Abdullah Al-Raisi won the award for Best Screenplay, and the film “You Will Not Dive Alone” by director Fahd Al-Maimani won the award for Best Cinematography. The film “Magic of the Sands” by director Walid Al-Kharusi won the award for Best Soundtrack, while the Jury Award went to Maryam Al-Rasbiyeh for the film “Hajjin.”

The inaugural Ayn Short Film Festival in 2024 has hosted a distinguished lineup of Omani and Arab writers, directors, and artists. Among them are Syrian director Najdat Anzor, Emirati artist Dr. Habib Gholom, Bahraini director Ali Al-Najjar, Syrian screenwriter Diana Kamal Al-Din, and German-Moroccan producer Nadia Yaqeen, Dr. Inas Yaqoub, a producer and director from Bahrain, the Saudi director Hana Al-Omeir, Kuwaiti actor Abdulaziz Al-Nassar, Egyptian artist Ahmed Abdulaziz, and Tunisian academic Dr. Mounira Hadji.

The five-day festival have included various workshops and seminars aimed at enhancing filmmakers' skills in areas such as screenwriting, cinematography, editing, and navigating the film market both regionally and globally. Additionally, there were judging sessions for the film competitions held during the event.