Wednesday 08 / April / 2026
Muscat : The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, represented by the Department of Communication and Youth Dialogue at the Directorate General of Youth, announced today the opening of registration for the fourth edition of the "Tawasul" Youth Short Film Award.
The award targets Omani filmmakers, aiming to support cinematic creativity and promote meaningful community dialogue.
This edition of the award focuses on exploring issues of concern to individuals and society, emphasizing areas of meaningful discussion and thoughtful engagement with opinions and perspectives. These topics and areas pertain to the individual's relationship with themselves, the individual's relationship with their community and surrounding environment, and the community's relationship with the local community or humanity at large.
Hilal bin Saif Al Siyabi, Director General of the Directorate General of Youth at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, stated that the "Tawasul" Short Film Award for Youth continues its successful journey in its fourth edition for 2026, reaffirming its strong position in discovering young talents and developing their capabilities in this vital field.
Al Siyabi added that the award comes within the framework of ongoing support for youth creativity and enhancing the presence of national talents in the field of filmmaking, in line with the goals of "Oman Vision 2040" to create a knowledge-based and aware society that preserves its identity, possesses skills and capabilities, and keeps pace with new knowledge and technological changes.
He explained that the award has witnessed remarkable development in recent years in terms of participation and the quality of submitted works. Statistics from previous editions show a significant increase in the number of applicants, along with a diversity of ideas and directing styles, reflecting the awareness of young people and their growing interest in creating meaningful cinematic content.
The Director General of the Directorate General of Youth stated that the award, in its fourth edition, is an extension of efforts to open up diverse spaces for communication and dialogue with young people through various means. It also supports the intellectual interests of youth, as the award serves as a platform for dialogue and engagement with them.
He noted that the award addresses the most important topics of interest to Omani youth, aligning with their aspirations and concerns at every stage of their development. Furthermore, the award showcases the creative potential of young Omanis in the short film industry.
The Ministry has specified the participation requirements for the award, which include accepting all types of short films—narrative, documentary, 3D animation, and digital—with participation limited to Omani nationals.
The entire film crew must be Omani nationals. If absolutely necessary, non-Omanis must be included, and this should be limited to a very small number. Submitted films must not have been previously broadcast on any social media platforms or public or specialized online platforms. They must adhere to an objective approach and avoid any offensive or vulgar content. Furthermore, the use of artificial intelligence technologies should not be substantial in order to preserve the authenticity of the artwork.
Films produced in 2025-2026 are eligible for submission, provided they have not been submitted to previous editions of the award. Films must be between one minute and 45 minutes in length. The deadline for submissions is October 1, 2026, via the registration form available on the website of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth.
