Omani film “Al Darrooj” secures accolade at Tunisian film festival
Muscat, The Gulf Observer: The Omani film Al Darrooj won the Best Screenplay Award, out of 22 films in the fiction and documentary sections at the Cinemakinah Days festival in Tunisia.
Al Darrooj is directed by Humaid bin Saeed Al Amri and won the Best Screenplay Award, out of 22 films from 16 countries including Tunisia, Palestine, Sultanate of Oman, Libya, Mauritania, Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Cuba, Rwanda, Pakistan, South Africa, Canada and Iran. The fourth session of “Cinemakinah Days” lasted for four days and concluded today in the city of El Moknine on the eastern coast of Tunisia, in the presence of poets, filmmakers, artists and writers. The event was held in the House of Culture, whose walls were decorated with poetic works by the poet Mahmoud Darwish.
The festival sought to embody the art of cinema and poetry in a unique combination that reflects the diversity of the visual and linguistic arts. Founded by the festival director, Tunisian director Younes Ben Hajria – the festival is distinguished in the quality of the films it displays through its distinctive selection of films that poetically address issues.
In addition to the film competition, special screenings were held in solidarity with the Palestinian cause, including the screening of the cartoon film (Shireen) by Iraqi director Zaid Shukr, and the film (Farha) by Jordanian director Marine Salam. Also included were various workshops within the course’s activities.
The short fiction film Al Darrooj has been on a journey of more than 40 festivals around the world in which the film won many awards, including the Jury Award from the Digital Portal Festival in Algeria, the Best Screenplay Award from the Oulad Taima Film Festival in Morocco, and the Best Actress Award for the film’s heroine, Habiba Al Salti, from the Racoda Asian Film Festival in the Arab Republic of Egypt. In addition, a few weeks ago, it received 4 international awards from Indian festivals, including the Best Screenplay Award, the Best Direction Award, and the Best International Short Film Award.
