Latest news with #AmmanInternationalFilmFestival
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Personal Stories From Gaza Screen at Amman Festival Via Rashid Masharawi's Bold Film Initiative, From Ground Zero
AMMAN, Jordan — As Gaza remains engulfed in one of the most devastating conflicts in its modern history, Gaza-born Palestinian filmmaker Rashid Masharawi is focused on something both impossibly difficult and urgently necessary: storytelling. The veteran director, best known for 'Curfew' and 'Ticket to Jerusalem,' is the force behind From Ground Zero and its expanded follow-up From Ground Zero+, initiatives aimed at helping emerging Palestinian filmmakers document life inside Gaza. More from Variety 'In the Name of the Father' Director Jim Sheridan Talks Sea Lions, Family Road Trips and the Politics of Storytelling Expert Aleksi Hyvärinen Talks at Amman About How AI Is Rewriting Indie Filmmaking Gaza-Set Fatma Hassona Documentary 'Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk' Sells Wide for Cercamon (EXCLUSIVE) Several short films from the project have screened at this year'sAmman International Film Festival, which wraps July 10, offering audiences a deeply personal look at individual lives too often reduced to numbers. 'We were completely numbers — 100, 200, 1,000,' Masharawi says. 'Part of this project is about turning those numbers into humans again. People with names, eyes, colors, dreams.' Initially launched as a short-form workshop concept, From Ground Zero produced 22 shorts, each running between three and six minutes. The follow-up, From Ground Zero+, expands the format to include longer documentaries, up to an hour each, with 10 films in development. According to Masharawi, five are complete, and more are in production and post-production, with editing taking place in France. 'As long as the war continues, our cameras will continue,' he says. 'We wanted these films to be cinema, not news. Personal stories, not just reactions.' That distinction, between reactive documentation and intentional artistic creation, is crucial to Masharawi's vision. Despite working remotely with a team of five assistants inside Gaza, he served as the artistic advisor and story mentor, ensuring the filmmakers had both structure and creative freedom. 'I left space for the filmmakers to express not only their feelings, but also their cinematic ideas,' he explains. 'Some films are fiction, animation, video art, even marionette theater. Everything was open.' Stories From Inside The challenges of production were, as Masharawi notes, unlike anything faced in traditional filmmaking. Electricity was rare. Internet access often meant venturing into high-risk areas near hospitals and media tents, locations frequently targeted by Israeli airstrikes. 'We needed to move people, give them cameras, transport hard drives, and to talk, they had to go where there was Internet,' he says. 'Those were the most dangerous places.' Despite these constraints, the films that emerged are rich with humanity, loss and unexpected resilience. One four-minute short, 'Jad and Natalie,' tells the story of a man mourning a lost love. The filmmaker, unsure his story was appropriate at such a moment, was encouraged by Masharawi to proceed. 'He was shy, but I told him, 'This is exactly the story we need, something deeply human, far from the news,'' Masharawi recalls. 'And it turned out to be a very beautiful film.' Another, 'Taxi Wanissa,' follows a man using a donkey-drawn cart as a taxi service after fuel supplies ran out. The filmmaker, Etimad Washah, was only two days into filming when tragedy struck. She lost her brother, his wife and their children in a bombing. 'She appears in the film and says, 'I'm sorry, I can't finish it,'' Masharawi recounts. 'It's the first time I've seen that in cinema — where the filmmaker tells you, on camera, why the film has to end.' Some projects were never completed. 'One filmmaker lost everything: his camera, his laptop, his house,' Masharawi says. 'He was living in a tent. How could he go shoot?' Festival Run and Global Reach Despite the overwhelming odds, From Ground Zero has found remarkable success internationally. The collection has screened at more than 350 film festivals like Toronto, at Cannes in events organized in parallel to the festival, and it was shortlisted for the Oscars. In France, it's had a theatrical release, and it has been shown at institutions including Unesco in Paris and the United Nations in New York. 'For me, it's also about memory,' Masharawi says, 'and about showing the people in Gaza that they're not alone. Festivals, articles, audiences …. It means something. It matters.' Above all, he believes in cinema as a form of cultural protection, a means to preserve identity, memory and humanity in the face of destruction. 'Cinema can carry feelings, thoughts, dreams,' he says with gravitas. 'It becomes a land that no one can occupy.' Looking Ahead Asked what success might look like in 2035, Masharawi doesn't speak in terms of box office or distribution deals. He speaks, instead, of permanence, of history remembered, of stories told. 'No war lasts forever. No occupation lasts forever,' he says. 'Governments may win or lose battles. But people, the population, never lose. They are like trees, like sand, like the sea. You cannot win against nature.' For now, From Ground Zero+ continues to grow, despite the circumstances. As long as there are stories to be told from Gaza, Masharawi will keep making space for them. 'This is not my film,' he says. 'This is our film. I just give them the platform.' 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Broadcast Pro
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
AFID awards celebrate Arab talent and storytelling
This year, 18 projects from the Arab world were chosen to compete. Amman Film Industry Days (AFID), the industry-focused arm of the Amman International Film Festival – Awal Film (AIFF), concluded a six-day programme dedicated to empowering Arab filmmakers. The event featured a mix of masterclasses, panel discussions, workshops and one-on-one meetings at the AFID Market, where filmmakers presented their projects to producers, financiers, and industry professionals for the chance to secure cash and in-kind support. A key highlight this year was The Spark Series, the festival's first-ever platform dedicated to web-series—marking a regional first for any Arab film festival. It offered creators a space to showcase episodic content to an audience of distributors, experts, and viewers, signalling a growing interest in emerging digital formats. Eighteen Arab projects were selected to compete for a range of awards, judged by a distinguished jury that included Tunisian producer Dora Bouchoucha, Burundian filmmaker Joseph Bitamba, Spanish journalist and film programmer Eduardo Guillot and Jordanian producer Linda Mutawi. The jury acknowledged the high caliber of submissions and emphasized the creative potential shown across the selected works. During the closing ceremony, Festival Director Nada Doumani said: 'The Festival's pitching platforms and industry events are designed to support filmmakers. Our awards contribute to essential funding, helping stories reflect genuine community voices free from external pressures. Arab filmmakers must first be rooted in their region to later reach the world.' Bassam Alasad, Head of Amman Film Industry Days, added: 'This year's selection highlights intimate, character-driven stories of identity, memory and survival. Many explore a second coming-of-age, shaped by loss and displacement. Filmmakers use magical realism and emotional nuance to reveal inner worlds, challenging simplified views and affirming the complexity of Arab experiences.' Among the award-winning projects, The Orange Grove by Jordanian-Canadian director Murad Abu Eisheh received a $7,000 development grant from the Royal Film Commission. The Masters of Magic and Beauty by Egypt's Jad Chahine also received a $7,000 development award from the same body, and later secured an additional $5,000 from the Red Sea Fund. Other recognised projects included Ping-Pong (Palestine) by Saleh Saadi, which won a combination of cash and consultation awards, and The Last Mayor of Jerusalem (Jordan/UK) by Kinda Kurdi, which earned in-kind production services valued at $25,000. Jordanian filmmaker Tamir Naber's Six 2 One secured a $5,000 development prize, while From Temporary to Semi-Permanent (Jordan/Palestine) received multiple in-kind development and travel awards. In the post-production category, Asphalt (Jordan) by Hamza Hamidah stood out, winning both a $7,000 cash prize and in-kind services worth another $7,000. You Don't Die Two Times by Ager Oueslati, a co-production spanning Algeria, Tunisia, Germany, and France, received a €6,000 award from IEFTA and an additional $5,000 from the Red Sea Fund. Other notable winners included Testosterone (Morocco), All That The Wind Can Carry (Egypt/Qatar), and Amal (Jordan/Syria), which each secured significant post-production support. The AFID Market also awarded Like a Bird in The Sky (Egypt, Lebanon, Spain) by Amal Ramsis a $10,000 grant from ART, and Alicante by Lina Soualem received an in-kind invitation to participate in Cairo Film Connection 2025. From Temporary to Semi-Permanent continued its strong showing with two additional awards: in-kind consultation support from Alexandra Viets and a travel grant from the French Institute in Jordan.
Tourism Breaking News
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Tourism Breaking News
Jordan rolls out the red carpet for extraordinary experiences in 2025
Post Views: 62 Jordan rolls out the red carpet this year to an eclectic lineup of activities that will delight visitors and residents alike. Revel in the rhythm of memserising concerts by world-renowned artists. Celebrate the richness of culture and have unlimited fun with family. Transcending the realm of music, poetry and art, Jordan is bringing a never-before-seen lineup of artists and cultural programmes that are not just designed to inspire hearts and minds. There is an extraordinary breadth of events, including the Jordan International Food Festival and the Amman International Film Festival, which will bring a horde of celebrities to the city. No celebration of Jordanian culture would be complete without honoring the kingdom's extraordinary culinary heritage. The Jordan International Food Festival, from 6 to 11 August brings together the finest flavors of the Levant and beyond. And with such a delectable range of food comes soulful melodies by Ahmed Saad (on 7 Aug ), who blends modern pop with traditional Arabic music and evokes the pangs of love, heartbreaks and separations through his renditions. 'The extraordinary lineup is an open invitation to experience Jordan's soul. In venues where our rich history lives and breathes, under skies that have witnessed the rise and fall of empires, contemporary artists will find their perfect stage. This underlines our commitment to providing seamless and rich cultural experiences for all visitors in 2025,' said Dr. Abdelrazzak Arabiyat, Managing Director of the Jordan Tourism Board. 'The country's diverse attractions and easy access ensure that whether visitors come for leisure, business or cultural exploration, they will discover our kingdom's extraordinary hospitality and vibrant cutlural experiences.' Headline acts include musical performances by Sami Yusuf – performing for the first time in Jordan – and Amr delighting their fans from across the region. The events are spread across the country, from the vibrant streets of Amman to the shores of the Dead Sea, blending the power of music and melody with the charm of nature and the allure of heritage. Over the past month, the country has witnessed an extraordinary calendar of musical events that have set the stage for what is in store. These included not just the soul-stirring melodies from the Arab world but also contemporary artists taking centrestage.. Among the most captivating events this year is the Jerash Festival for Culture and Arts from July 23 – August 2. Hosted in the magnificently preserved Greco-Roman city of Jerash, and set against the backdrop of ancient amphitheaters that have witnessed two millennia of history, the festival brings history to life while celebrating the past and present. Families will be delighted with the Pluma Circus, which depicts the story of self-discovery and empowerment through a little girl, whose tale of dreams will capture hearts. There is also a range of 'Friends of Jordan' festivals, including Echoes of Heritage at the Kerak Castle on July 25, while opera lovers can regale with the performance of renowned mezzo-soprano, Farrah El Dibany on July 9. The popular puppet character Abla Fahita, loved for her sharp tongue and acid humour, will have audiences in splits on July 19. Do not miss the Amman International Film Festival from July 2 to 10 that celebrates independent film and the best of movies from the Arab world. Amman will celebrate the '165 Entertainment Event's that will welcome some of the Arab world's most celebrated voices, such as Iraqi singer and composer Kadim Al Sahir, alias The Caesar, performing on August 14, followed by an unforgettable night that will witness two legends, Wael Kfoury and Abeer Nehme, captivating audiences. '2025 is the year of growth to Jordan Tourism and we are open to the world to come and experience exception,' said Dr. Arabiyat,. 'The tourism industry has put together unique cultural, artistic and immersive experiences to ensure each tourist enjoys their journey here.' August, also celebrated as the month for youth, will also feature performances by Hiba Tawaji and Oussama Rahbani (on Aug 30) at Abdali in addition to Fuheis, the town between Salt and Amman, hosting the Fuheis Festival. The celebrations continue with an Umm Kalthoum tribute by May Farouq at the Roman Theatre on Sept 20, and the legendary Amr Diab performing at Aqaba, while October will be headlined by the Sami Yusuf concert. There is so much more in store every month including the Bromine Amman Marathon (October 17) for the health and fitness enthusiasts followed by the Ayla Red Sea Marathon in December.
Broadcast Pro
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
‘Tetes brulees' to make MENA premiere at Amman International Film Festival
MAD World oversees the film's international sales, while MAD Distribution manages its distribution across the MENA region. After its world premiere at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, where it received two Special Mentions in the Generation 14plus section, Têtes brûlées is heading to Jordan for its MENA premiere at the sixth edition of the Amman International Film Festival. The film will screen on July 6 at 10:00 p.m. at Taj Cinema and again on July 9 at 8:00 p.m. at the Royal Film Commission. A Belgian production infused with Tunisian influences, Têtes brûlées is a coming-of-age drama centred on 12-year-old Eya, who struggles to cope with the sudden loss of her older brother Younès. Bound by an unbreakable connection, Eya finds herself navigating a structured and emotional grieving process, leaning on her creativity, resilience, and Younès' close friends to make sense of her loss and move forward. The film has also garnered critical acclaim, with Aurore Engelen of Cineuropa describing it as 'a film of few words but many gestures—hands reaching out, arms embracing and consoling.' She commended Zellama's sensitive direction, noting her ability to 'capture both the strength and fragility of these moments.' Written and directed by Belgian-Tunisian-Danish filmmaker Maja Ajmia Zellama, Têtes brûlées is produced by Komoko, with co-productions by Quetzalcoatl and 1080 Films. Zellama, a graduate of the LUCA School of Arts, is also the co-founder and president of ASBL Bledarte, a Brussels-based organisation dedicated to empowering immigrant youth through art and culture. The film's production team includes producers Marc Goyens and Nabil Ben Yadir, cinematographer Grimm Vandekerckhove, editor Dieter Diependaele, production designer Eve Martin, casting director Marie McCourt, and sound designer David Vranken. Têtes brûlées is represented for international sales by MAD World, while MAD Distribution is overseeing its release across the MENA region. The film features Safa Gharbaoui, Mehdi Bouziane, Mounir Amamra (DIVINES), Adnane El Haruati, Saber Tabi, Nicolas Makola, Mehdi Zellama and Monia Taieb.
Jordan News
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Jordan News
Amman International Film Festival Launches 6th Edition under the Slogan "A World Beyond the Script" - Jordan News
The Amman International Film Festival (AIFF) kicked off its sixth edition on Wednesday evening under the thought-provoking theme 'A World Beyond the Script', in the presence of Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, Chairman of the Royal Film Commission, along with Princess Rym Ali, Princess Jalila bint Ali, and Prince Abdullah bin Ali. The opening also welcomed a host of film stars and creators, including Saba Mubarak, Georges Khabbaz, Diamond Bou Abboud, Yousry Nasrallah, Rashid Masharawi, and Tara Abboud, along with several cast members of the hit series AlRawabi School for Girls, and international filmmakers from around the world. اضافة اعلان In her opening remarks, Princess Rym Ali, President of the Festival, explained that this year's slogan symbolizes 'a world that has turned its back on diplomacy and dialogue, where humanitarian principles and basic decency have collapsed, and where madness and silence have become the new language.' She added: 'The filmmakers we selected are the ones capable of restoring sanity and direction to such a world.' Festival Grows Despite Regional Challenges In an interview with Zahrat Al Khaleej, Festival Director Nadi Doumani emphasized that the festival continues to grow each year, despite the challenges facing the region. She noted a number of firsts for this year's edition: Ireland was selected as the guest of honor, represented by acclaimed Irish director Jim Sheridan. A record number of Jordanian films (11) are participating in this year's competitions. For the first time, the festival included a dedicated section for web series. Select films were presented with sign language interpretation, expanding accessibility. Doumani highlighted that the festival remains committed to its core identity—'First Film'—focusing on debut works by directors, actors, or writers. While global cinema is part of the lineup, Arabic films remain a central focus. Opening Night Highlights The opening ceremony featured: A Cherkessian folkloric performance A live musical medley, including improvised vocal pieces by Jordanian singer Zein Awad Introduction of the jury panels The screening of the opening film, 'The Teacher' (Ma Baad) by Palestinian director Maha Haj The nine-day festival will showcase 62 Arab and international films, many making their world premiere, and some having already earned prestigious international awards. The event also includes panel discussions and workshops featuring global cinema professionals. The Amman International Film Festival continues to serve as a regional platform for emerging voices, celebrating creativity and innovation in storytelling.
