National Geographic picks short film shot in Oman for showcase
With more than 160,000 hits on the video sharing portal Vimeo, the four-minute film 12 Days in Oman is in the spotlight again as it has been selected by National Geographic’s Short Film Showcase.
Shot over 12 days in Oman, the video has got rave reviews on social media and thousands of ‘thank you’ posts for showcasing Oman’s beauty to the world.
Made by young German traveller and filmmaker Marko Roth
, a footage of the film has also been included in a music video for German music band Gamper & Dadoni.
Short Film Showcase spotlights exceptional short videos created by filmmakers and posted on the Web and selected by National Geographic editors.
“We look for work that affirms National Geographic’s mission of inspiring people to care about the planet,†said Rachel Link of National Geographic.
About 12 Days in Oman Link said, “Immerse yourself in the smells, sights, and sounds of this stunning country situated on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. Take in every inch of its beauty as these travellers climb mountains, dive into crystal clear waters, and walk through bustling city streets.â€
Roth told National Geographic that choosing Oman as a destination was just by chance.
“My friends Lucas, Dominik, Vivi, and I were looking for cheap flights and found one to Muscat. A place we had never heard about meant something new to discover – we had to go,†he said.
The best part of the trip for the team was that they found Oman to be secluded and not over exposed by tourism. “We never saw any big tourist groups, no annoying people with their huge cameras. It was calm. We had to work to discover all the beautiful spots. There were no signs and you couldn’t really trust the GPS. I loved that.â€
One thing that struck Roth and his team and also overwhelmed them was how open and cultured Omanis were. “All Omanis were so friendly and helpful. We received amazing feedback for the film. Two Omanis invited us for dinner and we received more than 80 messages thanking us.â€
Asked if he were to recommend things for people to do/eat/see while they’re in Oman, he said that for meals, one can get chicken sandwich and dates anywhere. “I fell in love with dates in Oman. It’s almost impossible to find tastier ones in Germany. You get your daily dose of Arabic tea with dates everywhere.â€
Recommending exploring Muscat, Salalah, and Musandam and to check out the dry riverbeds or wadis, he said, “There are amazing spots to cliff-jump!â€
Roth said he found Oman even safer than his own country.