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Gulf film festival opens in Muscat with 26 films in fray 

Monday, 17 November 2025 20:16

Muscat – The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth on Sunday evening inaugurated the 2025 Gulf Film Festival at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, bringing together filmmakers and industry professionals from across the GCC for four days of screenings and training programmes. The festival features 26 films from the region competing for nine awards […]

Muscat – The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth on Sunday evening inaugurated the 2025 Gulf Film Festival at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, bringing together filmmakers and industry professionals from across the GCC for four days of screenings and training programmes.

The festival features 26 films from the region competing for nine awards across feature, short and documentary categories. It was opened by Sayyid Saud bin Hilal al Busaidi, Governor of Muscat, in the presence of Gulf artists, directors and producers.

This year’s edition presents a selection of recent Gulf productions alongside specialised workshops designed to support upcoming filmmakers. Organisers say the event aims to reinforce the role of Gulf cinema in portraying the social realities and future aspirations of the region.

The opening ceremony included tributes to prominent Gulf cinema figures for their contribution to developing the industry. Those honoured were Kuwaiti actor Saad al Faraj, Saudi actor Abdulmohsen al Nemr, Bahraini director Ahmed Yaqoub al Muqla, Emirati director Abdullah Hassan Ahmed and Omani actor Juma Haikal.

Speaking at the event, Faraj said he was encouraged by the emergence of young Gulf filmmakers, describing their growing participation as a sign of a stronger industry ahead. He called for sustained institutional support to help new talent raise the quality of regional productions.

Writer and critic Dr Abdullah Habib said cinema represents “a system of thought, creativity and knowledge”, noting that the festival offers more than screenings. He said workshops, lectures and masterclasses provide opportunities for deeper engagement with cinematic practice and promote cultural exchange among filmmakers.

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