Omani Film Wins Best Film Award at 2026 Food Film List Competition
Madrid, The Gulf Observer: Omani cinematographer Haitham Al Farsi’s film “Sufrat Ramadan fi Sur” (Ramadan Table in Sur) has won the Best Film Award in the “Urban-Rural Connectivity” category at the 2026 Food Film List competition, organized by the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism (IGCAT), headquartered in Barcelona, Spain.
The film was selected from more than 100 entries from around the world competing across 14 categories, marking a significant international recognition of Oman’s rich culinary and cultural heritage.
“Sufrat Ramadan fi Sur” takes viewers on a visual and cultural journey through the Ramadan dining experience in the Wilayat of Sur, highlighting the customs and traditions associated with the holy month. It showcases distinctive local dishes and social practices that characterize the traditional Sur table, reflecting the depth of the wilayat’s cultural heritage and historical identity.
The film also explores the strong connection between Sur’s culinary traditions and its longstanding maritime heritage. For centuries, the coastal city has been shaped by seafaring, trade and commercial exchanges with ports and communities across the region and beyond. These historical interactions have influenced local cuisine, from its ingredients and flavors to cooking techniques and methods of presentation.
Through its portrayal of food and community life, the film presents the Sur table as a living expression of the region’s history, social traditions and collective cultural memory.
The international recognition comes at a time of growing global interest in culinary tourism, gastronomic arts and experiential travel. Local cuisine is increasingly regarded as an important gateway to understanding destinations, allowing visitors to engage with communities and experience their traditions beyond conventional tourist attractions.
The award further underscores the potential of Oman’s culinary heritage to contribute to the country’s cultural diplomacy and tourism promotion by presenting authentic local experiences that showcase the identity, stories and distinctive way of life of its communities.
