Muscat – Three Omani filmmakers have earned international acclaim, winning two awards and a special jury mention at film festivals in Morocco and Iraq, with their works bringing Omani culture, human resilience and family relationships to the international screen.

Mohammed Al Ajmi won a joint Best Director award for Dahjan Al Ward, while Mohammed Ali Al Darwishi received the Jury Award for his five-minute short film Ayn at the 27th Cedar International Short Film Festival in Ifrane, Morocco, held from October 8 to 11.

Elsewhere, Qaisar Al Hinai received a special mention from the jury for Family Portrait at the second Nineveh International Film Festival in Mosul, Iraq, held from October 8 to 10.

The achievements highlight the diversity of Omani filmmaking, with stories exploring cultural heritage, disability, human connection and the complexities of family relationships.

Speaking to Muscat Daily, Al Ajmi said the Best Director award was particularly meaningful because Dahjan Al Ward captures an important aspect of Oman’s cultural identity through its portrayal of the rose-harvesting season in Jabal Akhdar.

“This recognition means a great deal to me, particularly because the film carries a part of Oman’s identity and memory. It is a cinematic experience that I am proud of artistically,” he said.

Al Ajmi described the award as motivation to continue developing his craft and telling Omani stories that can reach audiences across the Arab world and internationally. He dedicated the achievement to the film’s cast and crew, saying the recognition also reflected the progress of Omani cinema.

Looking ahead, he revealed that production has been completed on Al Zajirah: Memory of the Elephants, directed by Dr Hamid Al Amri and produced by Al Ajmi for Oman Film Society. He expressed hope that the film would be released soon.

For Al Darwishi, the Jury Award for Ayn marked an emotional culmination of months of work on a film centred on people with disabilities.

The five-minute short follows three young men – one blind, one unable to speak and one deaf – whose shared journey highlights the human connections and aspirations that transcend individual challenges.

“The feeling is indescribable. Months of hard work flashed before my eyes the moment the award was announced,” he said.

Al Darwishi said the film’s recognition in Morocco was particularly rewarding because it meant its humanitarian message had reached audiences beyond Oman. He dedicated the win to young people with disabilities in Oman and across the Arab world, emphasising the importance of stories that promote understanding and inclusion.

He is developing another short film, currently in the writing stage, while working on a project addressing an issue affecting Oman’s natural environment.

Meanwhile, Family Portrait explores the emotional distance and unspoken tensions that can emerge within families. The film follows a young girl who attempts to bring her family together for an Eid photograph. Unable to express her feelings through words, she turns to drawing, revealing emotions and realities that a photograph cannot capture.

Al Hinai said the special mention was a meaningful achievement for him and his team, affirming that the film’s story resonated with the jury and audience.

He is currently writing screenplays for a fiction feature and a documentary, with the aim of bringing greater maturity and depth to his future projects.