Monday 18 / August / 2025
Muscat: Mid-September in Oman is set to showcase world cinema with two back-to-back international film events.
Just ahead of the European Film Festival (September 21–28 at Cinepolis, Oman Avenues Mall), the first-ever Singapore Film Festival will take place from September 18–20 in Muscat.
The three-day festival will feature three critically acclaimed and award-winning films from Singapore — Ilo Ilo, A Land Imagined, and The Autograph.
These films, which explore themes of cultural differences, migrant issues, and political landscapes, have been celebrated at prestigious international festivals including Cannes and Locarno.
Organised by the International Film Foundation of Oman (IFFO) in collaboration with the Embassy of Singapore in Oman, the festival aims to introduce Omani audiences to the depth and diversity of Singaporean cinema.
During a press conference at the Singapore Embassy on Monday, Sudha Sha, coordinator of the festival and chairperson of IFFO, said: “Films have the power to unite people irrespective of differences. While audiences in this region often associate Southeast Asian cinema with Korea, Singapore’s films carry immense potential — deeply humane, sensitive, and political at the same time. Though commercial movies offer instant gratification, it is offbeat cinema that compels us to reflect on life with wisdom and depth.”
Syed Noureddin bin Syed Hassim, Chargé d’Affaires at the Singapore Embassy, added: “We are delighted to host the first Singapore Film Festival in Oman. It is a wonderful way to strengthen cultural understanding, particularly as this year marks four decades of Oman-Singapore relations and six decades of Singapore’s independence.”
Screenings will take place at Cinepolis, Oman Avenues Mall, starting at 7:30 pm, with tickets priced at OMR 1.
