Amman: The management of the “Amman International Film Festival – First Film” has announced the activities for its fifth session, set to take place from July 3 to 11. This year’s festival will feature 53 films from 28 countries worldwide.
According to a press release, this edition will showcase a rich and diverse selection of films, complemented by a variety of activities for cinema professionals. The audience will have the opportunity to engage with directors, actors, actresses, international experts, and producers, making this edition a must-attend event for cinema enthusiasts and industry professionals.
The festival’s program includes a mix of Arab and international feature films, documentaries, and Arab short films. These films were carefully chosen from hundreds of entries to provide a unique cinematic experience. All films are premieres in Jordan, released in 2023 and 2024, with some being shown globally for the first time.
The participating films will compete for the “Black Iris” award in four compe
titive categories: Best Arab Feature Film (seven films), Best Arab Feature Documentary Film (seven films), Best Arab Short Film (16 films), and the Audience Award for the winning film in the “Non-Arab Films” section (seven films).
Screenings will be held at Taj Cinema, the open-air theater at the Royal Film Commission in Jordan, and the Rainbow Theater. To reach a broader audience, additional screenings will be organized in various governorates across Jordan.
The “Arab Feature Films” category includes: “God Willing, a Boy” directed by Amjad Al-Rasheed – Jordan, “I Miss You” directed by Tamer Rogli – Egypt, “Beyond the Mountain” directed by Muhammad Bin Attia – Tunisia, “The Weary Ones” directed by Amr Gamal – Yemen, “Gangs” directed by Kamal Al Azraq – Morocco, “Backstage” directed by Afaf Ben Mahmoud and Khalil Ben Kiran – Morocco, Tunisia, and “Animalia” directed by Sofia Alawi – Morocco.
The Arabic long-form documentary category features: “Beautiful, My Land” directed by Sarin Hayrabedian – Jordan, “Hol
lywood Gate” directed by Ibrahim Nashaat – Egypt, “Hiding Saddam Hussein” directed by Halkut Mustafa – Iraq, “No Other Land” directed by Basil Adra and Hamdan Bilal – Palestine, “Wasila” directed by Rene Razouk – Lebanon, “Q” directed by Joud Shehab – Lebanon, and “Makan Al-Ruh” directed by Hamida Issa – Qatar.
Participants in the Arab short films category include: “Rolling” directed by Omar Al-Taher – Jordan, “Bitter Sweetness” directed by Zaher Samir Qasibati – Syria, “Smokey Eyes” directed by Ali Ali – Egypt, “Bird Scout” directed by Dhawan Al-Qawuqji – Lebanon, “Sukoon” directed by Dina Nasser – Jordan, “In the Waiting Hall” by Moatasem Taha – Palestine, “Lamb, Sheep and Crows” directed by Ayman Hammo – Morocco, “Sukrania 59” directed by Abdullah Al-Khatib – Palestine, “The Forest” directed by Firas Al-Taybeh – Jordan, “Salt of the Sea” directed by Laila Basma – Lebanon, “Our Male and Our Female” directed by Ahmed Al-Yaseer – Jordan, “Lenny Africa” directed by Marwan Labib – Tunisia, “And Under” directed
by Elio Tarabay – Lebanon, “The Canal” directed by Gad Shaheen – Egypt, “A Marriage Proposal” by Nadia Al Khater – Qatar, and “The Journey” by Hania Bakhshwain – Saudi Arabia.
Source: Jordan News Agency