Monday 21 / September / 2026
Muscat: The Oman Film Society has announced that it is now accepting submissions for the 2026 Omani Film Festival, which will take place from December 28 to 31, 2026.
The festival is part of the Society's efforts to support and develop the Omani film industry, empower national talent, and enhance the presence of Omani professionals in various fields of filmmaking.
The upcoming edition of the festival will feature three main competitions: Short Narrative Films, Short Documentary Films, and Artificial Intelligence Films. This reflects the festival's commitment to keeping pace with the rapid advancements in film content creation and modern technologies.
The festival management has allocated cash and incentive prizes for the winners in the top prizes and specialised artistic categories. Awards will also be given for each of the artistic elements in the narrative competition, including directing, screenwriting, cinematography, editing, music composition, and male and female acting. An award will also be given for the best poster in both the narrative and short narrative film competitions.
An award was established for the best film produced using artificial intelligence technologies in the AI film competition.
Anwar bin Khamis Al-Ruzaiqi, Chairman of the Oman Film Society , stated that the Oman Film Festival aims to encourage the film industry in the Sultanate of Oman and support those working in the film sector across all disciplines, including directors, writers, producers, cinematographers, editors, actors, technicians, and other talents who comprise the film industry.
He added that developing the film industry is not limited to supporting film production alone, but also includes supporting and empowering all the creative and artistic elements behind the success of a film.
Al-Ruzaiqi explained that holding the festival this year coincides with the celebration of World Cinema Day, giving it an added dimension by honoring those working in the film sector and celebrating their contributions and achievements in developing the artistic and cultural landscape.
He noted that allocating individual awards for various artistic disciplines is a new and distinctive feature offered by the Oman Film Society within the festivals it organizes. With the aim of showcasing Omani talent and expertise in various fields of filmmaking, encouraging excellence and professionalism, and fostering healthy competition among those working in this promising sector.
Regarding the participation guidelines, the society clarified that the competition is open to Omani filmmakers, provided that submitted works are recent productions completed during 2025 and 2026, and that the film's duration ranges from a minimum of 3 minutes to a maximum of 35 minutes.
It is also required to include English subtitles for films in Arabic or any other language, and to submit the final, approved version in high quality (Full HD 1080p) in either MOV or MP4 format via a direct, downloadable online link.
The festival's general regulations stipulate that participating works must adhere to public values and ethics, and be free of any content that promotes violence, discrimination, or hatred, or that violates public taste. Additionally, the films must not have been previously screened or broadcast on television channels, online platforms, or any other public media outlet. Participants must also acknowledge ownership of all intellectual and legal rights related to their submitted work.
The Oman Film Society indicated that November 1, 2026, will be the deadline for submitting applications via the designated online form. The Society encouraged Omani filmmakers to take advantage of this national platform to showcase their creativity and contribute to the growth and development of the film industry in the Sultanate of Oman.
