The lights dimmed at Cinépolis, Oman Avenues Mall, last week, and for eight days, Muscat spoke in nine different languages — yet with one universal accent: cinema.
As many as 19 movies and nine short films from different corners of the world enthralled audiences in Muscat as the Delegation of the European Union and its Member States’ embassies in Muscat, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, the Oman Film Society and the International Film Foundation of Oman, joined hands to present the third edition of the European Union Film Festival (EUFF), from October 11 to 18.
This year’s festival brought together Austria, Cyprus, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania and Spain, offering a vibrant, carefully curated selection that reflected the diversity, creativity and cultural richness of contemporary European cinema.
Speaking to the Observer, Anwar bin Khamis al Ruzaiqi, Chairman of the Oman Film Society (OFS), warmly welcomed the European Union Film Festival and highlighted it as a vital developmental milestone for local cinema.
“This year, the programme was a true celluloid season — stories that transcend borders, connect cultures, and celebrate our shared human experience. Through the universal language of film, EUFF has become more than a screening schedule. It is a space where European embassies, Omani institutions, filmmakers, students, media professionals, and cinema enthusiasts meet, dialogue, and discover new perspectives — strengthening the longstanding ties between Europe and Oman,” Al Ruzaiqi said.
Austria presented three movies, ‘A Whole Life’, ‘Downhill Skies’ and ‘Woodwalkers’, while Cyprus made its presence felt with ‘Maricel’. France presented three movies, ‘En Corps/Rise’, ‘Mars Express’ and ‘Chicken for Linda’, catering to a diverse audience over the week.
Germany had two movies, ‘Wochenend Rebellen’ (Weekend Rebels) and ‘No Hit Wonder’, presented in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut Gulf Region, while Hungary presented ‘The Game’ and ‘Semmelweis’.
Three Italian movies featured in the programme: ‘La Vita da Grandi’ (Siblings), ‘Come Ti Muovi Sbagli’ (Damned If You Do, Damned If You Don’t) and ‘Gioia Mia’ (Sweetheart). Meanwhile, ‘Superkrachten Voor Je Hoofd’ (Superpowers for Your Head) represented the Netherlands.
Romania presented ‘Warboy’, while Spain brought two movies, ‘El Olivo’ (The Olive Tree) and ‘Iberia’, offering glimpses into different aspects of life in the two countries.
At the heart of this year’s festival, however, were local stories. A dedicated short film competition was held as part of the third EUFF, providing a platform for emerging and established filmmakers in the Sultanate of Oman. Nine short films made it to the finals, and the shortlisted films were screened for the public during the festival.
“The event directly aligns with the OFS’ ongoing commitment to strengthening international cultural partnerships, and collaborating on the festival plays a key role in developing and advancing Oman’s local film sector,” Al Ruzaiqi added.
Three awards — Best Picture, Best Storyline and Best Director — recognised outstanding talent, with each winner receiving RO 500. Through this initiative, the festival sought to encourage local filmmaking talent and strengthen creative exchange between Oman and Europe. Viewers were able to vote for their favourite short film, and the winners were honoured at the closing ceremony at Cinépolis, Oman Avenues Mall.
“Besides the international films being screened, the Short Film Competition is a premier platform designed to showcase and uplift young Omani talent, as we have a group of rich and ever-prosperous young filmmakers,” he noted.
For eight days, Avenues Mall was more than a mall. It was a meeting point of histories, of laughter in Dutch, drama in Romanian, flamenco in Spanish and, above all, human feelings in all their hues — expressed in Austrian, Cypriot, French, German, Hungarian and Italian films, alongside quiet whispers in Omani Arabic. That was the magic of EUFF: it reminded us that while our languages are different, our stories are the same.
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