Amman International Film Festival announces sixth edition, honors Ireland

Jordan Daily – The Amman International Film Festival – Awal Film (AIFF) will hold its sixth edition from July 2 to July 10 in Amman, organisers said on Monday.

This year’s festival will run under the theme “A World Unscripted”, celebrating films that break free from convention and highlight the unpredictability of real life.

“The theme celebrates films that break free from convention, in which characters transcend scripted lines and stories unfold in the chaos and beauty of lived experiences,” said Princess Rym Ali, President of the Festival. “Life doesn’t follow a script; and recent years have certainly been unscripted. So, in this edition, we pay tribute to storytellers who dare to explore and narrate moments that feel more lived than written.”

The official poster for the festival, created by HUE Innovation & Design, visually reflects the theme with “a playful twist and a glimpse of hope,” organisers said.

For the first time, the Festival will feature a “Country of Honour”, with Ireland selected for the inaugural distinction. A dedicated section will spotlight Irish cinema.

“Much like Arab cinema, which remains the focus of our Festival, Irish cinema uses film as a means to navigate identity and resilience and showcase the country’s path to peace,” said Nada Doumani, Director of the Festival. “Within ‘A World Unscripted’, Irish and Arab narratives meet. In addition, Ireland’s honorable stance and unwavering solidarity with and support to Palestine and human rights resonate strongly in our region.”

Irish Ambassador to Jordan Marianne Bolger welcomed the decision.

“I am exceptionally proud that Ireland has been selected as the Festival’s first Country of Honour, and I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the President of the Festival and its organisers,” she said. “Ireland has a long history in cinema and filmmaking, and we are delighted to work closely with the AIFF to bring a collection of Irish films to Jordan that will hopefully resonate with audiences.”

“I believe each Irish film on display will speak, in its own way, to the theme of ‘A World Unscripted’, and I look forward to seeing how these movies are perceived by Jordanian viewers,” Bolger added.

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