Framing Short Film Practice in Oman (2000-2020): Context, Characteristics, Cultural Representation

This qualitative study examines Oman’s flourishing filmmaking practice, its determining
influences, and associated issues. It presents a first comprehensive mapping of the conditions
and structures in which film is situated in the Gulf state, considering the country’s wider
cultural, media and political landscapes as well as specifics such as film education, film festivals
or film culture in the Arab World. The thesis specifically focuses on short narrative films,
arguing for the importance of examining short films as a distinct sector that can thrive
independently of state recognition and large-scale funding, with Oman serving as a prime
example of this potential.
Framing Short Film Practice in Oman reveals how short films can provide fertile ground for
studying a given culture, offering an understanding of how concise narrative shorts can
effectively convey and represent that culture. Focusing on Oman’s thriving yet less-resourced
filmmaking practice, the study examines a representative sample of Omani narrative short films
produced between 2006 and 2020. Drawing on film readings as well as conversations with
practitioners, the analysis demonstrates that the films, with their visually captivating narratives,
constitute an allegorical exploration of the Omani context and help explain the country’s
ongoing negotiations of tradition and modernity.
The study asserts that Omani short film writers and directors craft their narratives around family
and invite viewers to engage with experiences and tensions through stories rooted in the basic
unit of Omani society. Ultimately, the thesis concludes that Omani narrative shorts offer a
stimulating experience that both solidifies Omani culture and addresses pressing societal issues.
It furthermore suggests that the productivity and creative energy of the short film sector might
contribute to the emergence of a ‘small-nation’ cinema in Oman that could be recognised in the
Gulf region, the Arab World and beyond.