As part of the Sultanate of Oman’s efforts to realize Oman Vision 2040, a cultural strategy has been developed to enhance arts and culture nationwide. In 2021, the Ministry of Information launched the Ayn platform, marking a significant advancement in digital media and aligning with global industry trends. The Ayn Short Film Festival, organized by the Ministry’s General Directorate of Electronic Media from 24 to 28 January, serves as a bridge between Ayn — Oman’s largest electronic platform — and Omani filmmakers. The 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 may submit films in various thematic areas, including: good citizenship, tourism, youth and sports, the future, digital and technical advancements, artificial intelligence, the impact of social media (both positive and negative aspects), Omani culture and identity, science and knowledge, and social issues.

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

1. Showcase Omani cinema and the artistic and cultural movement within the film industry in the Sultanate of Oman.
2. Foster creative energies and inspire youth participation in the film industry.
3. Promote local content and encourage the production of high-quality professional films.
4. Provide a platform to showcase and market young talents’ content locally and globally.
5. Facilitate cultural and artistic exchange between Oman and countries worldwide.
6. Offer pioneering filmmaking experiences and engage youth in the media industry’s messaging.

The festival targets professional, emerging, and aspiring filmmakers in Oman. It is the first film festival on the Ayn platform, offering filmmakers the opportunity to submit their works in three categories:

Short narrative films (5 to 30 minutes).

Documentary films (5 to 30 minutes).

Children’s films (5 to 15 minutes).

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

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, broadcast, or made available on any television channel, website, mobile phone, or public platform worldwide.

Films must be in Arabic, including Omani dialects.

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

Compliance with legal requirements as specified by the competent team.

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

In its inaugural edition, the Ayn Short Film Festival featured a wide range of films and accompanying events. The closing ceremony, held under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Abdullah bin Nasser Al Harrasi, Minister of Information, announced winners in the three main categories: narrative, documentary, and children’s films.

Narrative Films: “Al-Banjari” (dir. Moosa Al-Kindi) won Best Narrative Film.

Documentary Films: “The Omani River” (dir. Ayman Al-Numani) won Best Documentary Film.

Children’s Films: “Burning Souls” (dir. Yaqoub Al-Khanjari) won Best Children’s Film.

In the children’s category, “In Her Place” (dir. Wafa Al-Rashidiya) won Best Screenplay and Best Editing (Muhannad Mardi). The same director also won Best Actress, while Hood Al-Hinai won Best Actor. “Burning Souls” won Best Cinematography (and Best Makeup by Shahad Al-Balushi and Layan Al-Khatriya). Faisal Al-Shibli won Best Soundtrack for “In Her Place.”

In the narrative films, “Uncertainty” earned Best Screenplay (Ismail bin Hilal) and Best Actor (Raed Al-Ameri). “Al-Banjari” won Best Actress (Wafaa Al-Rashidiya), Best Soundtrack (Faisal Al-Shibli), and Best Makeup (Ibrahim Al-Jassasi and Rehab Adel). “The Green Box” won Best Cinematography (Amjad Al-Nabhani), while “Rob” won Best Editing (Saeed Al-Wahaibi).

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

The inaugural festival hosted distinguished Omani and Arab artists, including Syrian director Najdat Anzor, Emirati artist Dr. Habib Gholom, Bahraini director Ali Al-Najjar, Syrian screenwriter Diana Kamal Al-Din, German-Moroccan producer Nadia Yaqeen, Bahraini director Dr. Inas Yaqoub, Saudi director Hana Al-Omeir, Kuwaiti actor Abdulaziz Al-Nassar, Egyptian actor Ahmed Abdulaziz, and Tunisian academic Dr. Mounira Hadji.

The five-day festival included workshops and seminars in screenwriting, cinematography, editing, and navigating regional and global film markets. Judging sessions were also held during the event.