Muscat – Muscat will host the first Singapore Film Festival from September 18 to 20, showcasing three internationally acclaimed films that highlight the diversity and depth of Singaporean cinema.

Organised by the International Film Foundation of Oman (IFFO) in association with the Embassy of Singapore in Muscat, the festival will feature Ilo Ilo, A Land Imagined and The Autograph.

The films address themes ranging from family and cultural differences to migrant experiences and political realities, and have been recognised at leading international platforms including Cannes and Locarno.

Sudha Sha, coordinator of the festival and chairperson of IFFO, said the initiative aims to broaden horizons in film appreciation.

“Films have the power to unite people irrespective of their differences. When we speak of cinema from the region, attention is often focused on Korea, but Singapore also has immense potential. Its films are humane, sensitive and political at the same time,” she said.

While commercial cinema often dominates, it is important to engage with films that prompt deeper reflection, Sha added. “Though there is instant gratification from mass movies, such offbeat films make us think of life with wisdom and depth,” she noted.

Syed Noureddin bin Syed Hassim, chargé d’affaires at the Embassy of Singapore, said the festival is part of strengthening cultural ties between the two countries.

“We are extremely happy to host the first ever Singapore Film Festival in Oman. This year we also celebrate four decades of diplomatic relations between Oman and Singapore.”