Winners of Tawasul Youth Short Film Award feted

MUSCAT: The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, represented by the General Directorate of Youth, announced the winners of the Tawasul Youth Short Film Award in its third edition in 2025. The announcement took place during a ceremony held on Tuesday, under the auspices of Basil bin Ahmed al Rawas, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Sports and Youth, at VOX Cinema, Oman Mall.

This year's edition saw a significant increase in participation, with 46 films submitted compared to 24 films in the previous edition. Ten films qualified for the competition for the top positions. The jury panel, composed of Dr Abdullah bin Habib al Maini (Chairman), Qaisar al Hinai, Muzna al Balushi and Laura al Siyabi, awarded five winners for the top places and provided special recognition certificates for four additional films.

The film 'Hiss Al Ard' (sound of the earth) claimed first place, followed by 'Forbidden Roses' in second, 'The 25th Hour' in third, 'Dialogue with the Past' in fourth and 'Ranna' in fifth place.

Wadha al Farsi, Director of the Youth Communication and Dialogue Department, emphasised the ministry's dedication to supporting talented Omani youth in short film-making and enhancing their creative skills. She highlighted that the Tawasul Award, initiated in 2023, aims to foster constructive youth dialogue, shed light on humanitarian and social issues concerning young people, showcase their awareness and creativity, and exhibit Omani youth's creative potential across various social domains, showcasing their competence and capacity to make a positive global impact.

Al Farsi noted that the announcement of the winning films coincides with World Cinema Day, celebrated annually on December 28.

Abdullah Habib, Chairman of the Jury of the Tawasul Youth Short Film Award, praised the notable development in both quantity and quality in the third edition of the award. He commended the competing films for their advanced cinematic awareness and ability to address sensitive humanitarian and social issues through a responsible artistic approach.

Muzna al Balushi, a member of the judging panel, lauded the remarkable creativity and distinguished Omani films in terms of ideas and execution. She highlighted that all works were produced by Omani individuals and selected after thorough professional discussions within the jury to ensure fairness for all participants.

Malak al Ghafri, the winner of first place (Hiss Al Ard film), expressed pride in the achievement, attributing it to dedicated collective work that lasted over two months and was produced with a zero budget through the voluntary efforts of the team. She explained that the film was inspired by Taghribat Al Qaffer by Dr Zahran al Qasmi, transforming the concept of 'qafr' from water scarcity to impact tracing, while showcasing the traditional profession of searching for missing people and livestock known in Oman in the past.

Alia al Shukri, winner of second place, described the film as a beautiful and meaningful work that reflects the team's dedication and effort. She appreciated the commitment behind the project, noting that the time and passion devoted to the film were evident on screen.

Mahmood al Rawahi, winner of third place, expressed his pleasure in participating alongside fellow film-makers. He described the film's storyline about a young man who finds a watch in the desert capable of stopping time for one hour, which unexpectedly extends to 25 hours, leading to a series of challenges throughout the story.