The Omani short film ‘The Unknown’, directed by Mohammed bin Sulaiman al Kindi, has won the Best International Short Fiction Film Award at the 30th The Rabat International Author Film Festival (FICAR) (Festival International du Cinema D'Auteur de Rabat) in Morocco, earning strong praise from the jury for its compelling narrative, assured direction and high-quality visual treatment.
Oman’s participation, represented by the Oman Film Society as the Guest of Honour, provided a significant platform to showcase the country’s fast-growing cinematic capabilities. The film, which centres on the mysterious disappearance of a young man named Musa in an old village, captivated audiences with its blend of suspense and striking visuals.
This achievement underscores the rising stature of Omani cinema in international festivals.
The closing ceremony was attended by Khalid bin Salim Bamakhalif, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Kingdom of Morocco, who joined in celebrating the national success and Production Manager Qasim bin Mohammed al Salimi was honoured for his distinguished contributions to the development of Oman's film industry.
The festival is dedicated to the author cinema, a true cinema of art and thought in all its forms, to brave films, demanding, intelligent, even radicals who destroy the clichés; films that have an urgency and a personal writing dedicated to humanity in all its forms.
The FICAR is an alternative practice to counter the industrial machine that has globalised the taste and erased the right to be different. — ONA
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
