Dr Khalid Al Zadjali, who produced and directed the first Omani feature film, is a stalwart in his own right. Thanks to his pioneering work in supporting the film industry in the country, he was instrumental in introducing Oman to the filmmaking circuit. As the chairman of Oman Film Society and a consultant to Oman […]
Dr Khalid Al Zadjali, who produced and directed the first Omani feature film, is a stalwart in his own right. Thanks to his pioneering work in supporting the film industry in the country, he was instrumental in introducing Oman to the filmmaking circuit. As the chairman of Oman Film Society and a consultant to Oman Public Authority for TV and Radio, his passion for films and love of the craft has given an identity to the almost non-existent film industry in the Gulf state.
His first feature film, Al Boom was released in 2006 and his second feature, Aseel premiered last year during the Dubai International Film Festival. Dr Al Zadjali describes both his films as real stories of real people, showcasing the trials and tribulations of everyday life.
Aseel, for instance, is the story of a nine-year-old boy whose father is the sheikh of his village and trains camels for racing. The film brings to life the familys yearning for their home in the village, which they are forced to leave after a natural disaster. The 90-minute feature, shot in standard definition (SD) also features some scenes in high definition (HD).
Aseel has been screened at several film festivals including the recently held Gulf Film Festival and film festivals in Morocco and Cairo. It will also be screened at film festivals in Kuwait, Jordan, Germany and India. The Arabic film has been accepted well by international and local audiences, and comes with English and French subtitles.
As a writer and director, Dr Al Zadjali says he draws inspiration from nature and the country because thats where life thrives. “Cities are the same everywhere, but countryside gives identity to a place. The unique characteristics of a place come from the natural surroundings, which is why I like to build my stories around them,” says the filmmaker.
“Films are a wonderful medium to explore and depict human emotions and thats what draws me to them,” he adds.
His initiation into films began by watching Indian movies of the 60s and 70s. After completing his education in Oman, Dr Al Zadjali went to study filmmaking in Cairo from 1984 to 1989. Thereafter, he pursued two PhDs in cinema and drama and kids theatre from Romania and the UK.
“Training in filmmaking gave me a wider perspective on films as I watched more international films, especially European films from Italy and France. That shaped me as a filmmaker.” Al Zadjalis first film, a 93-second short was produced in 1990, soon after he finished college. In addition to several documentaries under his belt, he has also dabbled in TV serials.
The challenges of making films in Oman
Filmmaking in Oman is still in its infancy, with very little movement on this front but there is hope as film lovers in the country garner support to keep the industry afloat.
Dr Al Zadjali explains, “Producing a film in Oman is not easy. Funding is a big issue, and everything else stems from that. We face difficulties at every step, right from finding a sponsor to arranging equipment to getting technical support and so on. The industry is still underdeveloped and we have a long way to go.”
Although the situation is challenging, Dr Al Zadjalis passion for films has kept him going. While the feature film industry may still seem nascent in Oman, the Gulf state has more than 83 shorts and documentaries to its credit.
The Oman Film Society has played a key role in encouraging the craft among local Omanis by holding seminars and training workshops for aspiring filmmakers.
“Experimental, non-commercial films are picking up and there is increasing interest among the youth in that genre,” points out the filmmaker.
A number of institutes are now emerging in Oman to offer short media courses.
The Muscat Film Festival, instituted in 2001, brings international films to the country and has acted as a catalyst in introducing different genres of cinema to the local audience.
“Despite our ongoing efforts, we feel the road ahead is long and hard. The problem with Omani films is that they dont appeal as much to the community. Indian, American and Egyptian films are more popular here. Having said that, budget constraints limit the scope of our films, as a result of which the quality also suffers.”
Dr Al Zadjali hired crew from India to shoot his features. The raw footage was also edited in India for lack of similar facilities in Oman. The film, Aseel had 50 crew on board with 10 technicians who flew down from India to shoot. The film was shot over a period of one month and took two months of post production before hitting the theatres in Muscat.
The actors were not professionals but real life people who played roles in the films. They were all trained by Dr Al Zadjali on the job.
The Omani filmmaker is now working on his third script for a feature film which he intends to shoot in the mountains.
