Omani documentary wins Golden Palm Award at Saudi film festival
Published: 05:05 PM,May 14,2023 | EDITED : 09:05 PM,May 14,2023
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MUSCAT: The Omani documentary film ‘Long Distances’ received the prestigious Golden Palm Award for Gulf Film in the ‘Documentary Films’ category at the 9th edition of the Saudi Film Festival, held at the ‘Ithra’ Center in Saudi Arabia.
Directed by Ali al Bimani and Hamad al Qassabi, and produced by Khatt Films, ‘Long Distances’ is now available on the Ministry of Information’s ‘Ain’ platform, with an English translation for a wider international audience.
The film portrays the inspiring journey of an Omani girl who begins as a shepherd in a remote village nestled between the mountains adjacent to Wadi Al Sahtan, also known as Mandoos Oman.
With global recognition and the support of her husband, runner Sami Al Saeedi, she transforms into a champion of long-distance mountain races. Director Ali al Bimani shares that the film takes various forms, reflecting the remarkable story of the Omani girl’s triumph over challenges.
Participating in the Saudi Film Festival holds immense significance as it is one of the leading Gulf film festivals in the region, attracting talented film-makers, writers, and directors. It offers a valuable platform for extensive discussions, networking opportunities, specialised workshops, and the showcasing of exceptional films.
Director Ali al Bimani also sheds light on the challenges faced during the production of the documentary. He emphasises that creating any documentary film is a complex undertaking, involving deep understanding of the story, study of the characters, and continuous dialogue with them to gather essential information.
Regarding the film’s well-deserved award, Al Bimani expresses his belief that ‘Long Distances’ resonated strongly at the festival and garnered praise from Gulf critics, as well as Arab and non-Arab film-makers.
The film has not only inspired film-makers, writers, and media professionals but also enticed them to explore the beautiful aspects of Oman’s environment, people, and shared issues.
Al Bimani underscores the urgent need for such films, emphasising the scarcity of Omani cinematic productions that prompt curiosity about Oman’s culture, history, and surroundings.
Suad al Nusaibi, one of the runners featured in the film, expresses her delight at participating in this exquisite documentary that showcases two Omani individuals engaged in long-distance running competitions, both at local and international levels. — ONA
Directed by Ali al Bimani and Hamad al Qassabi, and produced by Khatt Films, ‘Long Distances’ is now available on the Ministry of Information’s ‘Ain’ platform, with an English translation for a wider international audience.
The film portrays the inspiring journey of an Omani girl who begins as a shepherd in a remote village nestled between the mountains adjacent to Wadi Al Sahtan, also known as Mandoos Oman.
With global recognition and the support of her husband, runner Sami Al Saeedi, she transforms into a champion of long-distance mountain races. Director Ali al Bimani shares that the film takes various forms, reflecting the remarkable story of the Omani girl’s triumph over challenges.
Participating in the Saudi Film Festival holds immense significance as it is one of the leading Gulf film festivals in the region, attracting talented film-makers, writers, and directors. It offers a valuable platform for extensive discussions, networking opportunities, specialised workshops, and the showcasing of exceptional films.
Director Ali al Bimani also sheds light on the challenges faced during the production of the documentary. He emphasises that creating any documentary film is a complex undertaking, involving deep understanding of the story, study of the characters, and continuous dialogue with them to gather essential information.
Regarding the film’s well-deserved award, Al Bimani expresses his belief that ‘Long Distances’ resonated strongly at the festival and garnered praise from Gulf critics, as well as Arab and non-Arab film-makers.
The film has not only inspired film-makers, writers, and media professionals but also enticed them to explore the beautiful aspects of Oman’s environment, people, and shared issues.
Al Bimani underscores the urgent need for such films, emphasising the scarcity of Omani cinematic productions that prompt curiosity about Oman’s culture, history, and surroundings.
Suad al Nusaibi, one of the runners featured in the film, expresses her delight at participating in this exquisite documentary that showcases two Omani individuals engaged in long-distance running competitions, both at local and international levels. — ONA