Kuwin Wins Award for Best International Documentary Film
The Kuwaiti film “No Doors,” directed by Latifa Ahmed Al-Qutami, won the award for Best International Documentary Film at the conclusion of the second edition of the Salalah International Film Festival. The festival, which wrapped up two days ago at the Sultan Qaboos Youth Cultural and Recreational Complex in Salalah, concluded after four days filled with film screenings and cultural and artistic activities.
The Kuwaiti film’s victory came within the results of the documentary film competition, in an edition that saw broad participation from cinematic works from various countries, alongside the attendance of numerous producers and film industry specialists, reflecting the festival’s growing international presence. The Kuwaiti documentary by director Al-Qutami documents the lives of a group of people in Uganda who live in difficult conditions, in homes lacking even the most basic amenities for security. Despite this, they continue to maintain their smiles despite the harshness of their surrounding environment.
The closing ceremony was held under the patronage of Dr. Ahmed bin Mohsen Al-Ghasani, Mayor of Dhofar. It featured the honoring of success partners, sponsors, and jury members, as well as the announcement of winning films in the feature and documentary competitions, artistic and musical performances, and the recognition of several participants.
Dr. Rashid bin Abdullah Al-Yafai, Director of the Second Salalah International Film Festival, emphasized that organizing the festival was the result of significant efforts and a passion for the value that cinema represents, driven by the importance of enhancing Dhofar Governorate’s presence on the international cinema map. He noted that over its days, the festival offered diverse cinematic and cultural experiences through film screenings, workshops, seminars, and tourism tours, allowing participants and the public to learn about different human experiences and cultures. He affirmed cinema’s role in bridging peoples and strengthening shared human values.
For his part, Dr. Ahmed bin Mohsen Al-Ghasani stated that the success achieved in the first edition was clearly reflected in the second, through increased numbers of participants and a wider circle of participating countries, alongside the attendance of several producers in the competition. He clarified that the diversity of the participating works, and the heritage, cultural, documentary, and dramatic themes they addressed, enhanced the chances of the festival’s continuity and the development of its status as a platform capable of attracting global cinematic production, thereby supporting the film industry in the Sultanate of Oman.
In addition to the Kuwaiti victory, the competition results saw the Omani film “Wahm” (Illusion), directed by Issa bin Salem bin Hamad Al-Subhi, win the award for Best Omani Feature Film, while the Egyptian film “Qafala,” directed by Ahmed Al-Zaghabi, won the award for Best International Feature Film. The Moroccan film “Qwarir” (Bottles), directed by Yassine El Idrissi, received the Special Jury Prize in the International Feature Film competition, while the Omani film “Waroud Mahruma” (Forbidden Flowers), directed by Dalila Ali Nasser Al-Darji, received a Special Mention.
In the documentary film competition, alongside the Kuwaiti film “No Doors,” the Omani film “Hayat Ala ‘Aqlatayn” (Life on Two Wheels), directed by Khatim Al-Sayed, won the award for Best Omani Documentary Film. The Omani film “Al-Himsam, Al-Rajul” (The Sword, The Man), directed by Shahab Ahmed Al-Nasiri, received the Special Jury Prize, and the Libyan film “Malika” (Queen), directed by Mohammed Al-Qasir, received a Special Mention.
