Muscat International Film Festival Kicks Off its 11th Edition

he Muscat International Film Festival (MIIFF) honors a number of directors and international and local cinema stars (Oman News Agency)
he Muscat International Film Festival (MIIFF) honors a number of directors and international and local cinema stars (Oman News Agency)
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Muscat International Film Festival Kicks Off its 11th Edition

he Muscat International Film Festival (MIIFF) honors a number of directors and international and local cinema stars (Oman News Agency)
he Muscat International Film Festival (MIIFF) honors a number of directors and international and local cinema stars (Oman News Agency)

The 11th Muscat International Film Festival (MIIFF) has kicked off in Oman with the slogan “Renewed Oman,” showcasing 23 films from 11 countries.

Running until March 7, the festival aims to promote global collaboration in cinema and highlight Omani and Arab filmmaking talents.

According to festival director Ammar Al-Ibrahim, films from Oman, the Arab world, and beyond help foster understanding and cultural exchange.

They provide a platform for directors and writers to express their visions.

The festival features 23 feature films and 34 short films, including works from Omani filmmakers.

It also includes a Festival Market for industry players to network and promote their projects.

Notable figures being honored at the festival include directors from Iran, Oman, Palestine, and Bahrain.

The festival also aims to showcase Oman’s diverse landscapes to international filmmakers.

Established in 2002, the MIIF is running its 11th edition and is considered one of the earliest film festivals in the Gulf region.



Ancient Egyptian Coffin Given New Life in Britain

Staff at Swansea University welcome back the artifact. Photo: Swansea University
Staff at Swansea University welcome back the artifact. Photo: Swansea University
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Ancient Egyptian Coffin Given New Life in Britain

Staff at Swansea University welcome back the artifact. Photo: Swansea University
Staff at Swansea University welcome back the artifact. Photo: Swansea University

An ancient Egyptian coffin was given a new life after it has been returned to Swansea University's Egypt Center in Wales.

The artifact, believed to date from about 650 BC, is now back at the university after thousands of hours of conservation work at Cardiff University, where it was painstakingly cleaned, reconstructed and consolidated to prevent it from deteriorating further, according to BBC.

The coffin, originally made for a man called Ankhpakhered in the Greek city of Thebes, was transported back under the watchful eye of the center’s curator Dr. Ken Griffin.

Staff described the finished project as “beyond our wildest dreams.”

“The coffin was gifted to us by Aberystwyth University in 1997 but details about its history are sketchy,” Griffin said.

He added: “It actually ended up being used as a storage box at one time, with other Egyptian objects placed in it for safekeeping.”

The university’s Phil Parkes explained that the wooden coffin was covered in textile and then had a thin layer of decorated plaster over the top.

He said: “Much of that textile had become detached over time and was just hanging loose.”

Parkes added that the separate wooden head was detached and there were a couple of large pieces of wood missing, the side of the base had fallen off and it was in a very sorry condition overall.