NIZWA: Al Dakhiliyah International Film Festival, organised by the Omani Association for Cinema and Theatre in cooperation with the Office of the Governor of Al Dakhiliyah, has concluded. The closing ceremony was held under the auspices of Shaikh Hilal bin Said al Hajri, the Governor of Al Dakhiliyah and honorary president of the festival, at Nizwa Cultural Centre.
The winners in the competition section of festival, which had 40 films including fiction, documentary and animation, were honoured on the occasion.
The feature film 'Station 49' by Jordanian director Amro Bayoumi won the best film award while the second prize went to 'The Key Café' by Syrian director Ali al Aqbani. Belgian director Rand Abu Fakher's 'So We Live' won the third prize. The feature film 'Somewhere in Time' by Emirati director Nawaf al Janahi got the special jury award.
The Best Omani Narrative Film award went to the film 'A Child's Scream' directed by Salih al Muqaimi.
There were three awards for documentary film awards, in addition to the jury's appreciation. The Best International Documentary award went to 'Hymns on the Bridge' by Sudanese director Sadam Siddig while the Best Omani Documentary Film award was bagged by 'Pottery', directed by Mohammad al Muqbali. The Jury Prize for Documentary Films went to the film 'Al Gari' by Saudi director Ahmed al Hasawi. The certificate of appreciation was won by Algerian director Souad Douaibi's 'Maqouda'.
Addressing audience, Mohammed bin Sulaiman al Kindi, director of the festival, said: "This festival played an important role in introducing the Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah and its wilayats through the Omani media, external media and social media sites. This brought the governorate and the festival good reputation at the local, regional and international levels."
Meanwhile, Ammar al Ibrahim, Omani Association for Cinema and Theatre's board of directors deputy chairman, announced the details of the 11th Muscat International Film Festival. He said: "I am honoured to announce that the Muscat International Film Festival's 11th edition will be held in March 2023."
The event is one of the most significant film festivals organised by the Omani Society for Cinema and Theatre in the Sultanate of Oman.
Earlier in the day, the participants of the festival visited Misfat Al Abriyeen -- one of the most important villages in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate -- where old houses have been restored, transforming them into tourist attractions. The village has been acclaimed as one of the most beautiful heritage tourism sites in the world.
The delegation also visited the Creativity Centre for Culture and Innovation in the Wilayat of Nizwa, which was opened recently. It houses a large library and a museum.
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