Muscat International Film Festival to start tomorrow

Oman will roll out the red carpet at the 10th Muscat International Film Festival (MIFF), presented by the Ministry of Tourism in association with Oman Airports, at the Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA) auditorium tomorrow, March 26, at 6:30 pm.

A warm welcome awaits celebrities and other top guests sweeping them in a wave of excitement as the 10th MIFF gets ready to showcase the good and the great from the world of cinema and highlighting homegrown Omani talent and from the international film world.

The Oman Film Society (OFS), under the Ministry of Social Development, are the organisers of the six-day festival, ending on March 31.

The festival will host film stars from around the world, including Bollywood actress Manisha Koirala, award winning Indian-American filmmaker Mira Nair, Egyptian actor Amr Waked, Syrian filmmaker Ghassan Massoud, Egyptian director Ali Badrakhan and Italian actor Franco Nero.

Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Al Rawas, advisor to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said for cultural affairs, will be the chief guest at the opening of this fest, which celebrates films in Oman and the rest of the world.

115 films at MIFF

MIFF, which was founded in 2001, has come a long way, with awards being given as early as it was launched and then slowly taking on an international hue.

Today, as the 10th MIFF rolls out in style, it is with a certain pride, having reached a stage where it could feature some 115 films, a couple of premieres, a large number of Omani short films and documentaries. A variety of genres and cultures are represented in this year's edition.

Premieres at Vox Cinemas

The films (14 long feature films and seven long documentaries – in competition and four screenings, including premieres) will be screened at the VOX City Centre Qurum, VOX City Centre Muscat and VOX Shatti.

The six-day festival, beginning tomorrow, will feature exciting musical and cultural events at the PACA auditorium, while cine-goers and film buffs will troop to the screens under VOX Cinemas to catch the visual excitement.

Red carpet

The opening ceremony will feature movie stars, celebrities, local and international, directors, filmmakers, and artists walking the red carpet, which is set outside the entrance to the PACA auditorium.

Artistes performing at the opening

The artistes performing on the opening night include Geert Chatrou, the Dutch whistling champ; Simona Abdallah, Danish-Palestinian percussionist; Lavanya, the only accomplished woman Saxophonist in India, and Olena Uutai, Russian Jaw harpist and Haitham Mohammed Rafi, Oman's own favourite singing sensation.

Organisers

VOX Cinemas is the venue partner. The hospitality partners are the Hormuz Grand Hotel and the Mysk by Shaza. Times of Oman and Al shabiba are the official newspapers, while Merge and Al Wisal are radio partners.

For event invitations call 24522331.