The new edition of the festival welcomes cinematic productions from around the world, with 2099 films submitted for viewing and evaluation by specialized committees, resulting in the selection of 8 films for the official competition, along with 6 films produced by the Jordanian Ministry of Culture and 6 films by Jordanian university students to support local film production and encourage young talent.
The festival program also includes honoring several pioneers of Jordanian art and drama, including the artist and director Salah Abu Hanoud, the artist Muhammad Al-Abbadi, the artist Abdul Karim Al-Qawasmi, and the artist and director Ahmed Daueis, in recognition of their contributions to the Jordanian art and drama scene.
The festival opens with a special screening of a film that explores the festival's cinematic narrative through its previous editions, produced by the Royal Film Commission of Jordan, followed by a performance by the Jordanian Artists Syndicate that includes a collection of Jordanian songs celebrating musical heritage and national identity.
The official competition film screenings begin at 7:30 PM, and the festival hosts several Arab filmmakers and guests, including Dr. Taha Al-Hashemi, Dr. Hukmait Al-Baydani, director Amer Al-Salameen, and director Hani Al-Mulla, to enhance the presence of Arab cinema and cultural and cinematic exchange.
The festival is managed by a high and technical committee chaired by the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Culture, Dr. Nidal Al-Ayasrah, and includes the membership of the Syndicate of Jordanian Artists, Dr. Hani Al-Jarrah, Dr. Amer Ghraibah, Dr. Ahmed Al-Faleh, director Sandra Qawaar, and director Ishaq Yassin, with director Muhammad Al-Asha serving as the committee's secretary.
The official competition jury includes Dr. Ali Al-Rabiyat as chairman, Dr. Joseph Shamali, director Khalid Sulay, Marwan Al-Salehi, and producer Dalia Al-Nimr.
The festival's events continue for five days, affirming the presence of Jordanian cinema and opening up a space for interaction between Jordanian, Arab, and international filmmakers, enhancing cinema as a field for dialogue and cultural exchange.
