Muscat – A delegation from Oman Film Society (OFS) participated in the 37th Isfahan International Festival for Children and Youth Films held recently. The festival brought together leading filmmakers and creative talents from across the world to Iran.

The Omani delegation included Dr Jinan Mahdi al Eisa, who served as a jury member for the international film competition. Dr Hamid Said al Amri and Dr Shabeer Abdul Rahim al Ajmi attended as official guests of the festival.

Jinan expressed pride in representing Oman on the international jury, describing the festival as “an important platform for discovering young talent and encouraging the production of films dedicated to children and youth.” 

She added, “Participation of OFS in such global events reflects Oman’s commitment to cinema as a cultural and educational medium, while enhancing the presence of Omani filmmakers on international stages.”

Amri highlighted the fact that the participation was a result of the strong cultural and artistic ties between Oman and Iran. “The festival provided valuable opportunities to connect with directors and producers from various countries, and to explore potential collaborations in producing and distributing children’s and youth films,” he said.

The festival featured a competitive lineup of international and Iranian films. Awards were presented in categories including best film, direction, screenplay, acting and artistic achievement.

The Canadian film ‘Miss Botts’ won in the film category, while the Iranian film ‘The Dedicated Orphanage’ was awarded for best direction. The award for best screenplay went to the Iranian production ‘K-Poper’.  Denmark’s ‘Honey’ won for best performance and ‘The Storm’ from China took home the award for artistic achievement.

OFS stated that its participation in the Isfahan festival aligns with its strategy to promote Omani cinema internationally and exchange expertise with global film institutions. Such engagements, it added, help Omani filmmakers gain exposure to the latest developments in children’s and youth cinema, consolidating the nation’s cultural and cinematic presence regionally and globally.