Al Batinah International Film
Festival Announces 62 Finalists for Third Edition

Sohar, 19 Oct (ONA) — The third Al
Batinah International Film Festival unveiled its competition lineup during a
press conference in Sohar today, revealing that 62 films have been selected
from 319 submissions across 33 countries to compete in six award categories.

Organized by Oman Cinema Society in
collaboration with the North Al Batinah Governor’s Office, the festival will
run from 27 to 30 October under the theme “Cinema and the Sea.”

Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Ajmi,
Chairman of the Oman Cinema Society and Festival President, emphasized the
event’s role in continuing the Society’s strategic vision initiated during Expo
Dubai 2020. “This festival represents our ongoing commitment to
revitalizing cinematic activity across Oman’s governorates while promoting
North Al Batinah’s cultural heritage and creating opportunities for youth
innovation in the film industry,” Al Ajmi stated.

The selected films will compete in
categories including Best Omani Narrative Film, Best International Narrative
Film, Best Omani Documentary, Best International Documentary, Best Artificial
Intelligence Film, and Best Omani Institution Film. The submission breakdown
included 198 narrative films, 88 documentaries, 18 AI-generated films, and 15
productions from Omani institutions.

The festival program will commence
at Liwa Fort with the screening of “Al Batinah: Your Destination for Film
Production,” directed by Ahmed Al Kharousi. Subsequent days will feature
industry workshops, tourist tours organized by the Ministry of Heritage and
Tourism, and screenings at Fox Cinema Sohar. Specialized sessions will address
artificial intelligence in filmmaking, talent development, and investment
strategies for film projects, led by international experts including Egyptian actor
Ahmed Magdy and trainer Amal Askar.

The closing ceremony on 30 October
will announce award winners across all categories and honour Egyptian actor Ahmed
Magdy and Algerian actor Iman Nawal for their significant contributions to the
film industry. The festival aims to position North Al Batinah as an emerging
hub for film production while fostering international cultural exchange and
supporting Oman’s growing creative economy.

— Ends/Khalid