Monday 22 / September / 2025
Muscat: The second edition of the European Film Festival 2025 kicked off in Muscat Governorate on Monday.
Organised by the European Union Delegation and the embassies of the member states in the Sultanate of Oman, in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth and the Omani Cinema Association, the festival will continue until September 28.
The festival will feature 25 films, including two Omani films and 23 European films presented by the embassies of Austria, Cyprus, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, and Spain.
Laura bint Saeed Al Siyabi, Head of the Cinema Department at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, said: "The European Union Film Festival reflects the depth of the established cultural partnership between the Sultanate of Oman and the European Union, and embodies the commitment of both parties to promoting dialogue and mutual understanding through the cinematic arts."
She added that this festival, hosted by the Sultanate of Oman, is a pioneering platform that brings together filmmakers and audiences from diverse cultures, providing a unique opportunity to exchange experiences and creativity, and to gain insights into diverse artistic perspectives.
She explained that cinema plays a pivotal role as an effective tool in conveying stories that inspire understanding and enhance communication between different peoples and cultures, noting that the festival represents an opportunity to celebrate shared human values and focus on artistic trends and creative innovations that reflect the spirit of the times.
She pointed out that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth affirms its commitment to continuing fruitful cooperation with its European partners, and working to support cultural initiatives that contribute to enriching the artistic scene in the Sultanate of Oman, enhancing community participation, and building bridges of understanding and communication between different cultures, which will positively impact community development and enhance the Sultanate of Oman's position on the international cultural scene.
The festival will feature a series of events, most notably a symposium on the evolution of production processes in the field of visual effects and post-production, a session at the Omani Society for Arts titled "The History of Arab-German Cooperation in Cinema," a screening of the documentary "Bohol," a dialogue with director Eduardo Bellino, a short filmmaking session for selected talents, a symposium on women's empowerment and their evolving role in modern society, and another symposium titled "Diving into the Magic of Cinema: Focus on Visual Set Design."
