Omani Presence at Kazan International Film Festival

The Sultanate of Oman is marking a notable presence at the 22nd Kazan International Film Festival “Altyn Minbar”, held in Kazan, Russia, from September 4 to 8, 2026.
Oman is represented by Fahad bin Ramadhan al Maimani, Lecturer in the Department of Photography at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, who is serving on the festival’s international jury alongside renowned Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi, who chairs the jury and filmmakers from Russia, France, Syria and Algeria.
The festival, supported by the Russian Ministry of Culture and the leadership of the Republic of Tatarstan, brings together filmmakers and cinema professionals from around the world, promoting cultural dialogue through film.
Al Maimani said his selection reflects growing recognition of Omani cinematic talent and carries a responsibility to further strengthen Oman’s presence internationally. He highlighted the festival as an opportunity to build professional relationships that could lead to international productions filmed in Oman, co-productions, knowledge exchange and training opportunities.
He also pointed to Oman’s diverse landscapes and heritage, including mountains, deserts, coastlines, villages and historic sites, as offering filmmakers a wide range of visual and production possibilities.
Oman’s participation is further strengthened by the screening of the Omani feature film “Lego Queen”, directed by Haitham Sulaiman.
“Cinema knows no borders”, Al Maimani said. “Oman has many stories that deserve to be told and shared with the world”.
The festival received 1,030 film submissions from 67 countries, with 55 films selected for its official competition, underscoring its growing international reach.
Oman’s participation reflects the expanding presence of its cinema on the international stage and opens new avenues for collaboration and future productions.