Amman International Film Festival Announces Exciting Line-Up for Fifth Edition with Over 50 Films and Special Events

Amman, 12 June 2024 – The Amman International Film Festival – Awal Film (AIFF) proudly presents the film program for its fifth edition, scheduled from 3 to 11 July 2024. This year’s festival boasts a diverse and dynamic selection of films, alongside a variety of activities tailored for film professionals. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with filmmakers, actors, actresses, international experts, and producers, making this edition an unmissable event for cinema enthusiasts and industry professionals alike.

The film line-up for the festival includes 52 films from 28 different producing and co-producing countries, featuring a mix of Arab and international feature-length narratives and documentaries, as well as Arab short films. Carefully curated from hundreds of submissions, this selection offers a unique cinematic experience, showcasing films unlikely to reach commercial theaters in Jordan. All movies are Jordanian premieres released in 2023 and 2024. Among these, 12 films will have their Arab premieres. Two films will have their world premieres – the first-ever screenings of these films. Additionally, five films will have their international premieres – the first screenings of these films outside their country of origin. In addition to various valuable awards, films spanning across four sections, will compete for the prestigious Black Iris Trophy and cash awards. Festival goers will engage with the directors in various discussions after the screenings.

For the fourth year in a row, the Festival hosts the Franco-Arab Rendez-Vous, a non-competitive section that includes five feature films and six shorts either French or co-produced with France.

This year, the festival will showcase another out-of-competition section “Spotlight” that sheds light on stories directed by either seasoned or young filmmakers from our region.

Commenting on the film selection, Areeb Zuaiter, Head of Programming of the AIFF, said: “In light of current events, choosing to remain silent is not an option. We must tell, we must share our narrative. Our program will not only tell profound stories but will also illuminate lived experiences drawn from authentic personal journeys. This year, we have exercised heightened selectivity. Our aim, however, remains for the festival’s theme to resonate deeply while offering the people of Jordan the opportunity to enjoy the largest number of films on the big screen.”

The participating films will compete for the “Black Iris” award across four competitive sections. Three of these sections are judged by juries: Best Arab Feature-Length Narrative (seven films), Best Arab Feature-Length Documentary (seven films), and Best Arab Short (16 films). Additionally, the Audience Award will be given to the winning film in the international section (seven films).

Screenings will be held at Taj Cinemas, the open-air theatre at the Royal Film Commission – Jordan, and Rainbow Theatre. To reach a wider audience in Jordan, additional screenings are organized in various governorates.

Tickets will be available for purchase on our website www.aiff.jo starting from Monday, June 24th.

THE SELECTED FILMS ARE LISTED BELOW:

Arab Feature-Length Narrative Competition: 

• Back to Alexandria, directed by Tamer Ruggli – Egypt
• Behind the Mountains, directed by Mohamed Ben Attia – Tunisia
• The Burdened, directed by Amr Gamal – Yemen
• Inshallah a Boy, directed by Amjad Al Rasheed – Jordan
• Hounds, directed by Kamal Lazraq – Morocco
• Backstage, directed by Afef Ben Mahmoud & Khalil Benkirane – Morocco, Tunisia
• Animalia, directed by Sofia Alaoui – Morocco

Arab Feature-Length Documentary Competition:

• My Sweet Land, directed by Sareen Hairabedian – Jordan
• Hollywoodgate, directed by Ibrahim Nash’at – Egypt
• Hiding Saddam Hussein, directed by Halkawt Mustafa – Iraq
• Hyphen, directed by Reine Razzouk – Lebanon
• Q, directed by Jude Chehab – Lebanon
• Places of the Soul, directed by Hamida Issa – Qatar

Arab Shorts

• Bitter Sweetness, directed by Zaher Samir Kusaibati – Syria
• Smokey Eyes, directed by Ali Ali – Egypt
• Rolling, directed by Omar Al-Taher – Jordan
• Canary in a Coal Mine, directed by Dwan Kaoukji – Lebanon
• SUKOUN (Amplified), directed by Dina Naser – Jordan
• In the Waiting Room, directed by Moatsem Taha – Palestine
• A lamb, a Sheep and Ravens, directed by Aymane Hammou – Morocco
• Sokrania 59, directed by Abdallah Al Khatib – Palestine
• The Woodland, directed by Firas Taybeh – Jordan
• Sea Salt, directed by Leila Basma – Lebanon
• Our Males and Females, directed by Ahmad Alyaseer – Jordan
• Leni Africo, directed by Marouene Labib – Tunisia
• An Album of Vows, directed by Elio Tarabay – Lebanon
• The Call of the Brook, directed by Jad Chahine – Egypt
• A Proposal, directed by Nadia Al-Khater – Qatar
• The Ride, directed by Hania Bakhashwain – Saudi Arabia

International

• The Strangers’ Case, directed by Brandt Andersen – USA/JORDAN
• Notes from Sheepland, directed by Cara Holmes – Ireland
• The Girls Are Alright, directed by Itsaso Arana – Spain
• Dreaming & Dying, directed by Nelson Yeo – Singapore
• My Muslim Husband, directed by Daniel Bărnuți & Alexandra Lizeta Bărnuți – Romania
• Banel & Adama, directed by Ramata-Toulaye Sy – Senegal
• Handling the Undead, directed by Thea Hvistendahl – Norway

Arab Franco Rendez-Vous

• Feature Films
  • Four Daughters, directed by Kaouthar Ben Hania – Tunisia
  • The Mother of All Lies, directed by Asmae El Moudir – Morocco
  • Deserts, directed by Faouzi Bensaïdi – Morocco
  • Six Feet Over, directed by Karim Bensalah – Algeria
  • Même si tu vas sur la lune, directed by Laurent Rodriguez – France
• Short Films
  • A Short Film About Kids, directed by Ibrahim Handal – Palestine
  • The Key, directed by Rakan Mayasi – Palestine
  • Eras, directed by Malak Abu Hamdeh – Palestine
  • 3350KM, directed by Sara Kontar – Syria
• Noisy-le-Sec Short films
  • Bye Bye Benz Benz, directed by Mamoun Rtal Bennani & Jules Rouffio – Morocco, France
  • La Voix Des Autres, directed by Fatima Kaci – France

Spotlight

• Bye Bye Tiberias, directed by Lina Soualem – Palestine
• Bab El Shams, directed by Yousry Nasrallah – Egypt
• Hajjan, directed by Abu Bakr Shawky – Egypt
• From Ground Zero – 22 short films – Palestine

The Festival is made possible with the support of long-standing partners, among which: Jordan Tourism Board, The Royal Film Commission – Jordan, Abdali Investment and Development, Zain Jordan, Royal Jordanian, Edgo, SAE Institute, Ghiath & Nadia Sukhtian Foundation, Greater Amman Municipality, HUE, TAJ Cinemas, Jordan Kuwait Bank.

For all information visit our website www.aiff.jo or email us at: info@aiff.jo or call us at +962792222011.