Indian School Darsait successfully organised the Indian School Film Festival (ISFF) 2025, a lively celebration of student imagination and cinematic brilliance, under the aegis of the Board of Directors, Indian Schools in Oman.
The festival, held on 17 January, commenced in the morning with an interactive session for students from the various schools with the Chief Guest, Mr. Kamal, the acclaimed Indian film director, screenwriter, producer and former Chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy. To questions posed by the enthusiastic young filmmakers, Mr. Kamal shared his experiences including the transformation of the film industry catering to the needs of the society, from the culture specific to the growing global perspectives of the audience. This was followed by the screening of the short films including HSE videos and reels.
Yet another attraction of the festival was the Students’ Corner, a creative tribute by the students and the Malayalam Department to the chief guest. The corner, which also served as a photo booth, included a short story in the form of a letter weaved seamlessly together with the names of movies directed by Mr. Kamal.
The evening saw the culmination of the event, the Award Ceremony of the film festival. The event commenced with the Royal Anthem of Oman, followed by the National Anthem of India. Besides the Chief Guest, Mr. Kamal, noted Omani actor Dr. Talib Al Balushi graced the programme as the Guest of Honour. Mr. Syed Ahmad Salman, Chairman, Board of Directors, Mr. Harshendu Shah, Vice Chairman, Board of Directors and other Directors, Board of Directors, Indian Schools in Oman, School Management Committee of Indian School Darsait, principals of various schools, teachers, parents, and students attended the event in large numbers.
In his welcome address, Mr. Shalimar Moideen, President of the School Management Committee, highlighted the significance of ISFF in fostering creativity and visual communication skills among students, while encouraging them to explore cinema as a meaningful art form. He further said, “Your passion, imagination, teamwork, and courage to tell stories make this event meaningful and memorable”.
Addressing the audience, Mr. Syed Ahmad Salman, Chairman, Board of Directors, Indian Schools in Oman said, “Discipline, consistency and hard work are the key factors behind success and these values are to be embedded in the Indian education system for every child”. He further called upon teachers to see themselves as directors, shaping students’ lives to achieve excellence.
Speaking on the occasion Mr. Kamal, the Chief Guest stated, “True artistry goes beyond technology and requires cultural awareness, social sensitivity and freedom of expression rooted in homes and schools”. He reiterated that India’s constitutional values, its unity in diversity and democratic freedom empower artists to raise voices for the marginalised with self-respect as citizens.
The Guest of Honour in his speech exhorted children to make films on simple themes from daily life to the complex and pressing theme of peace. A video presentation depicting the journey and progress of Indian School Darsait, followed by another video tracing the evolution of ISFF over the years, was warmly appreciated. A vibrant fusion of group dances titled ‘Frames Through Time: Black and White to VFX Era’ mesmerised the audience.
The Award Ceremony was the focal point of the evening, recognising exceptional contributions across categories including short films, impactful videos, advertisements, and creative reels. Suryaraaj Nair of Indian School Darsait and Aleesha Shynu of Indian School Wadi Kabir won the Best Actor and Best Actress Awards respectively. Benito Jovi Pereira and Joy Nathan of Indian School Al Wadi Al Kabir won the award for Best Editing and Best Music while Al Faik Bin Faisal of the same school received the award for Best Director. The Best Screenplay award was secured by Anagha Surendran of Indian School Rustaq. Ashwin Mohan of Indian School Darsait received the Best Cinematography award. Indian School Al Wadi Al Kabir claimed The Best Short Film award for students (open category) while the award for facilitators was won by Indian School Al Maabela. The award for Best Advertisement was won by Indian School Salalah. The Most Impactful HSE Videos in the Junior and Senior categories were bagged by Indian School Nizwa and Indian School Sur respectively. Indian School Maabela secured the award for the most Creative Reel. The students of CSE (Care and Special Education) were individually honoured for their short film in the category of Children with Special Needs which brought great cheer to their faces. The prestigious Rolling Trophy – ISFF 2025 was awarded to Indian School Sur.
The screening of the award-winning short film along with selected entries captivated the audience and received widespread acclaim.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Mr. Amar Srivastava, Principal, Indian School Darsait. Overall, ISFF 2025 reinforced its reputation as an inspiring platform that celebrates young talent and promotes cross-cultural collaboration through the art of cinema.
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