The activities of the Al Ghafa International Film Festival for Environment and Climate are being held from January 15 to 18 in Musandam Governorate.
Held under the patronage of Sayyid Ibrahim Al Busaidy, Governor of Musandam, the festival is organised by Dreams Art Production, a centre specialising in dramatic and artistic cinematic production for over two decades.
Jassim Al Batashi, the Head of the festival, says the festival aims to ‘Enhance awareness among those working in cinema as well as the public about the importance of climate change and environmental preservation.’
He adds that the "festival also seeks to promote Oman and enhance its role in serving the environment at the global level and among international organizations. It also seeks to create generations who innovate in producing artistic works that serve the environment and climate.”
Al Batashi points out that the festival is considered the first of its kind in the Gulf and the Arab region, specialising entirely in the field of environment and climate. The targeted topics are many and these include pollution, climate change, food security, waste management, forest fires, plastic damage, environmental sustainability topics, soil degradation, air pollution, renewable energy, desertification, water pollution, wildlife, marine environment, nature and mountains, cities and rural areas, environmental solutions and innovations.
The festival includes various activities and will be attended by researchers, specialists, media professionals, and artists from inside and outside the Sultanate.
The second day sees the launch of the scientific and artistic symposium under the slogan ‘Cinema and The Magic of Nature, Musandam National Park.’ It will be held under the patronage of the Governor of Musandam, and several specialists will participate. The topics presented will be namely ‘Natural Reserves and Climate Change,’ ‘Climate Change and its Impact on the Water Sector’, ‘Utilising Cinema in Serving the Environment,’ and ‘Environment and Climate in the Artistic Works.’
The festival hosts experts from outside the Sultanate to share their countries' experiences in this field. ‘The efforts of Qatar in eco-tourism’ and ‘The Saudi environmental initiatives and their impact on the Gulf Cooperation Council,’ will also be presented.
The festival will be accompanied by a screening of the short films that qualified in the competitions launched last January on the festival’s social media platforms (@ghafa_film). All attendees will have the opportunity to watch documentaries, feature films, and animation films that innovatively discuss environmental and climate issues.
The Omani Astronomical Society will participate in the astronomical observatory event during the festival days, where the public will have the opportunity to experience the astronomical observatory to view the sun, moon, and stars.
The photography art exhibition ‘Features of the Nature of Musandam’ will also be opened and a folk heritage exhibition will be held with the participation of the Omani Women’s Association in Khasab. Dr Wafa Al Shamsi, writer and researcher, will participate in a training workshop to enable the participant to master the skill of creative writing in the field of the environment in a way that serves the Omani identity.
There will be cultural tours through which guests can learn about Musandam Governorate, its culture, history, and picturesque nature. The festival activities conclude on January 18, Thursday.
Al Batashi mentions the reason for choosing Al Ghafa to be the festival symbol as it is considered one of the perennial local trees that endures difficulties and grows in various terrains. “According to studies published for a period ranging from 200 to 300 years and more, Omani people in particular have a deep connection to this tree. It is very famous and cherished by Omanis and some Gulf countries, and hence chosen as a unique main theme for the festival,” he adds.
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