HOLLYWOOD STARS UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT AT THE MUSCAT INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

HOLLYWOOD STARS UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT AT THE MUSCAT INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

        24-31 March 2012

Hollywood stars and filmmakers, a total of 90 participating countries, 150 movie entries and a retrospective on Sir David Lean are just some of the highlights of this year’s edition of the Muscat International Film Festival held from 24 to 31 March in the Sultanate’s pulsating capital.

Aimed to enhance the talents of the local Oman cinema, the Festival is also open to foreign filmmakers and more than 90 countries, including the UK, USA, France, Japan, Egypt, China, Morocco, Syria and Iran; will be participating this year. Hollywood stars such as Jackie Chan, Vin Diesel, Forest Whitaker, Sigourney Weaver and director Darren Aronofsky are some of the stars expected to be under the spotlight together with Bollywood, Kollywood, Malayalam and Arab World celebrities.

A retrospective on Sir David Lean, best remembered for big screen epics such as “Lawrence of Arabia”, “Doctor Zhivago” and “A Passage to India” will feature two world famous actors, Omar Sharif and Victor Banerjee. Omar and Victor, who have acted in Sir David’s movies, will lend their insight into the glorious past and the golden film era.

The Opening and Closing nights, held at Grand Hall of the Sultan Qaboos University will be packed with entertainment including exclusive performances from Nancy Ajram , the Arab singing sensation, Tito Seif, famous belly dancer, Lucky Ali, Hindu soul singer and Salah Al Zadjali, Omani singer.

This year’s festival edition, full of exciting news, coincides with Muscat’s celebrations for being awarded the Arab Tourism Capital 2012. The Sultanate’s capital, considered the pulsating heart of Oman, offers an invigorating travel experience as well as a range of enchanting activities.

For more information about Oman please contact:

Oman Ministry of Tourism Representative Office in the UK and Ireland

Sangita Makwana/Alicia Iglesias Cortes

Tel: + 44 208 877 4503/4

Email: oman@representationplus.co.uk

Visit: www.omantourism.gov.om

http://www.muscat2012.om/muscat/index.html

More information about the Festival on: http://festival.omanfilm.net