The Omani film director who won accolades at the 11th edition of the India Film Festival in India last week is all set to highlight the history of the Sultanate of Oman on a bigger screen with actors from across the region and beyond marking first of its kind historical series of events.
Speaking to the Observer, Mohammed bin Abdullah al Ajmi, the director of ‘Manyour’ said that there has been a sound awakening for film-making in the Sultanate of Oman and it is just a matter of time before Oman sends some of the legendary film-makers to international arena.
"I have my plans of making a film-based on Oman on a bigger scale incorporating all actors and actresses from across the region, thanks to the constant support of the Sultanate of Oman and the Oman Film Society which paved way for the birth of newer film-makers like me,” he said.
Besides Al Ajmi’s ‘Manyour’, two other films namely, ‘Al Maksara’, and ‘Hashf’, both directed by Dalila al Diriyah took part in the festival.
While the film ‘Manyour’ dealt with the Omani art of Zamat and how to prepare for the start of the competition in the form of a suspenseful documentary, the film ‘Al Maksara’ documented the custom of Al Maksara in Nizwa Market, which is a traditional heritage custom that means arguing or negotiating the price between the seller and the buyer to agree on a price that both parties are satisfied with.
The film focuses on the Omani dagger because of its importance in shaping the Sultanate of Oman’s emblem, and as an important part of the Omani man’s identity.
‘Hashf’, the third movie deals with the story of a woman who lived in a remote village in the Sultanate of Oman where the series of events revolved around our habit of procrastinating things to do until they are gone and we lost them.
It also deals with the abandonment of the family or children, the lack of consideration for the elderly who are still clinging on to their lives, their village, their pets and all that were dear to them until their last breath.
Al Ajmi’s movie, ‘Manour’ has earlier won the ‘Audience Award’ at the Tire Film Festival in Lebanon and the Best Omani Film Award at the Al Sharqiya Film Festival. It has also participated in the 4th Casablanca International Film Festival and gained rave reviews at the fest.
“Participating in international festivals gives great exposure to us and Omani film-makers can benefit out of them and learn about cinematic experiences, and these festivals are also a unique opportunity to gain more experiences to understand different cultures,” Al Ajmi stressed.
Through international participations, Oman can introduce the cultural heritage that we are rich in, and a cinema culture evolving around this should be nurtured for the present and future generations to support a cinema culture in the country, which can also be a job-creator for thousands of people.
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