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The atmosphere was one of excitement and anticipation as the Amman International Film Festival – Awal Film (AIFF) kicked off its fourth edition in the Jordanian capital on August 15 at the Al-Hussein Cultural Center in downtown Amman. This year, the AIFF is presenting an exclusive edition with 56 films from 19 countries– Arab and international narratives, documentaries and shorts– either released in 2022 or 2023, being showcased for the first time in Jordan.
The week-long festival is hosting more than 120 film professionals coming from abroad to join the growing local filmmaking community. Most screenings are followed by a discussion with the filmmakers, and the festival also offers workshops and masterclasses, which are open to the public, on topics related to cinema.
“It’s wonderful to see the festival grow steadily every year; within a very short period, the AIFF has established itself as a recognized event in the cinema industry,” AIFF President Princess Rym Ali told reporters. She was joined on the red carpet by Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, representing King Abdullah II, several members of the Royal family and hundreds of guests: Jordanian and international personalities, Arab and international directors, actors, film experts, film critics, Jury members and festival partners.
The Jordanian Arab rock band “Octave,” led by Ahmad Silawi, opened the ceremony, which was hosted by Jordanian artist and singer Zain Awad. Princess Rym took the stage to announce the official launch of this edition, saying, “We look forward to hearing the new voices that will be telling our stories in the coming decades: that is the advantage of having a festival that celebrates first-timers.” She added, “This edition also comes at a time when the world of art and culture is being shaken, all over the planet, by the spread of artificial intelligence and the ethical issues it raises.”
The Jury members were officially introduced, followed by the screening of the opening film “Gaza Weekend,” a dark comedy directed by Basil Khalil. The director’s debut film was partially shot in Jordan in 2021.
During the intensive, months-long, around-the-clock preparations, the festival carefully curated the rich film program, all Jordanian premieres. Jury members will select the winners who will receive the Black Iris Trophy in addition to cash awards on August 22. This year, an additional prestigious award has been added: the FIPRESCI Prize (International Film Critics Awards), which will be handed over to the best Arab feature-length documentary. In parallel to the screenings, the Amman Film Industry Days (AFID) has organized a series of workshops, seminars and talks as well as three pitching platforms for Jordanian and Arab projects in development or post-production.
