Top film-makers honoured

MUSCAT, NOV 19

The Gulf Film Festival 2025 concluded at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre with a grand closing ceremony under the auspices of Salim bin Mohammed al Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism. The event brought together film-makers, artists and media professionals from across the GCC to honour the region’s leading cinematic talents.

The festival’s top awards recognised exceptional artistic achievement and bold cinematic experimentation.

Saudi director Osama al Khuraiji won Best Original Score for Sewar, while Kuwaiti film-maker Maryam al Obaid’s Tashadhy earned Best Cinematography. Omani director Zakariya al Kharousi took home Best Screenplay for his documentary Al Qlad, and Hatem Hussam Addin was named Best Director for his feature Akh.

In the acting categories, Kuwaiti actor Hussein al Haddad won Best Actor for Akh, while Emirati actress Badour Mohammed received Best Actress for her role as Amani in Hobbah.

The Best Short Film award went to Emirati director Bader Mohammed for Birthday Girl, and Kuwaiti director Mujbil al Faraj’s Bakshat Saad won Best Documentary Film. Emirati director Majid al Ansari’s Hobbah took the top prize for Best Feature Film.

The jury also presented Certificates of Special Recognition to several outstanding films, including the Omani Cylinder by Surour al Khalili, Bahraini Shareet Mix by Ali Suleiman Isbai, Bahraini documentary Japan’s Dark Side by Omar Farooq, and the Omani Himam by Bushra al Hinai. Special mentions went to Mira (Eid Eidain) and Fahid al Damnani (Sewar).

Adding to the festival highlights, film-maker and author Mohammed al Kindi launched his new book, Transformations of Omani Cinema 1970–2020, which provides a comprehensive reference on the evolution of cinema in Oman.

The book traces Omani cinematic beginnings from 1928, the rise of Oman TV, the establishment of the Omani Society for Cinema, and key milestones up to 2020. It also features influential figures, landmark events, and rich visual archives from festivals including the Muscat Film Festival and Majan Film Days.

Al Kindi noted that the project took nearly five years of research and interviews with senior officials and industry figures, describing the book as a documentation of both Omani cinema’s history and the personal stories behind it.