Muscat – Young aspiring filmmakers across Oman will have a chance to turn their summer stories into cinematic creations after the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth launched the first edition of the ‘Stars of the Future’ student film competition.

Targeting school students aged 11 to 17, the competition seeks to discover and nurture emerging filmmaking talent while encouraging young people to express their creativity through short films. With the theme, ‘My Summer in My Own Way, the contest invites participants to capture their personal summer experiences, adventures and everyday moments through the lens of a camera.

The initiative forms part of the ministry’s efforts to promote visual storytelling, develop artistic and technical skills among youth, and inspire the production of meaningful digital content.

Speaking on the occasion, Ibrahim bin Saif Bani Uraba, Assistant Director General of Arts at the ministry, said the competition aims to provide students with practical filmmaking experience while helping them develop creative and technical capabilities.

He noted that the programme also seeks to make productive use of the summer holiday by directing students towards artistic innovation and creative expression.

Laura bint Saeed Al Siyabi, Head of the Cinema Department, described the contest as the ministry’s first dedicated filmmaking competition for school students and a significant step towards supporting the next generation of content creators.

To encourage participation, the ministry has allocated five cash awards covering Best Creativity, Best Idea, Best Shot, Best Effects and Best Execution.

Participants can submit films lasting between one and three minutes, produced and filmed by the students themselves. Entries may be submitted individually or in teams of up to three members. Students are free to choose their preferred format, including drama, documentary, storytelling or slice-of-life productions, provided the content reflects community values and appropriate standards.

In addition to the film, contestants are required to submit a poster representing the concept and message of their work.

The ministry has set October 1, 2026 as the deadline for submissions. Winning entries will be screened during a special closing ceremony celebrating the achievements and creativity of Oman’s young filmmakers.