Muscat launches AI film festival to drive cinema, creativity

MUSCAT: Muscat has announced the launch of the Muscat AI Film Festival (MAIFF), a new platform exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence, film-making and human creativity while supporting emerging film-makers and content creators in Oman and beyond.
The festival brings together film-makers, creatives, students, technology specialists, studios and audiences from Oman, the region and around the world, positioning Muscat as a meeting point for cinema, technology, culture and storytelling.
MAIFF is based on the principle that while artificial intelligence is transforming film production and storytelling, it remains a tool to support creativity, with people and stories at the centre of the creative process.
The festival is open to Omani film-makers, students and creatives, as well as participants from the region and around the world. Institutions and studios working in the film and content industries are also invited to participate.
The programme began with the official launch and media briefing on August 31, with film submissions opening on September 5, 2026. Creative labs and specialised workshops will be held in October, followed by public screenings in November featuring the festival’s top five films at VOX Cinemas. The inaugural edition will conclude with a closing ceremony on January 19, 2027.
Beyond competitions and screenings, MAIFF aims to promote knowledge transfer, skills development and national talent in the creative and technology sectors.
The festival aims to train more than 1,000 Omanis in AI-assisted film-making and involve between 40 and 60 Omani small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the festival village.
Organisers are targeting a media reach of more than 10 million people across over 30 countries and a direct economic impact exceeding RO 100,000 during the first year.
rmz.ai is participating as the festival’s founding partner for generative AI and innovation. The partnership will support access to AI tools, education and training, and explore new pathways for AI-assisted film-making in Oman and internationally.
Films submitted to MAIFF will be produced through the rmz.ai platform, allowing participants to experiment with generative AI tools at different stages of film-making.
The festival will offer main prizes totalling RO 20,000 across film-making, storytelling, art direction and technological innovation.
The Best AI Film award carries a prize of RO 10,000, while Best Art Direction and Best Technological Innovation will each receive RO 5,000.
More than 13 additional awards will recognise achievements in creativity, storytelling, technology and artificial intelligence, as well as regional, emerging and special festival categories.
MAIFF is supported by a network of strategic, media, technology, production and programme partners, including the Ministry of Information, Mubashir, Thawani Pay, VOX Cinemas, rmz.ai, XPAND, DMS, Premagic, MIFU and Music Connections.
The inaugural festival aims to establish an international platform in Oman for the next generation of film-makers and creatives, while strengthening Muscat’s position as a hub where cinema, technology, culture and innovation converge.