Sohar: The third Al Batinah International Film Festival unveiled its competition lineup during a press conference in Sohar today, revealing that 62 films have been selected from 319 submissions across 33 countries to compete in six award categories.

According to Oman News Agency, the festival is organized by the Oman Cinema Society in collaboration with the North Al Batinah Governor’s Office and will run from 27 to 30 October under the theme “Cinema and the Sea.” Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Ajmi, Chairman of the Oman Cinema Society and Festival President, highlighted the festival’s significance in advancing the Society’s strategic vision initiated during Expo Dubai 2020. Al Ajmi stated, “This festival represents our ongoing commitment to revitalizing cinematic activity across Oman’s governorates while promoting North Al Batinah’s cultural heritage and creating opportunities for youth innovation in the film industry.”

The selected films will compete in categories including Best Omani Narrative Film, Best International Narrative Film, Best Omani Documentary, Best International Documentary, Best Artificial Intelligence Film, and Best Omani Institution Film. The submissions included 198 narrative films, 88 documentaries, 18 AI-generated films, and 15 productions from Omani institutions.

The festival program will commence at Liwa Fort with the screening of “Al Batinah: Your Destination for Film Production,” directed by Ahmed Al Kharousi. Subsequent days will feature industry workshops, tourist tours organized by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, and screenings at Fox Cinema Sohar. Specialized sessions will address artificial intelligence in filmmaking, talent development, and investment strategies for film projects, led by international experts including Egyptian actor Ahmed Magdy and trainer Amal Askar.

The closing ceremony on 30 October will announce award winners across all categories and honour Egyptian actor Ahmed Magdy and Algerian actor Iman Nawal for their significant contributions to the film industry. The festival aims to position North Al Batinah as an emerging hub for film production while fostering international cultural exchange and supporting Oman’s growing creative economy.