Launch of the 38th European Film Festival in Amman and Governorates with the Participation of 22 Films
Amman3 min read
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The 38th edition of the European Film Festival officially kicked off on Friday, September 11, at the headquarters of the Royal Film Commission of Jordan in Amman, during a ceremony attended by a number of Jordanian guests and artists, alongside representatives from the diplomatic corps and the filmmaking sector.
The opening ceremony featured a distinctive musical performance by an elite group of renowned soloists and musicians, namely: soprano Dima Bawab, mezzo-soprano Julia Deit-Ferrand, tenor Jean Miannay, baritone Jean-Christophe Lanièce, and pianist Marie Olivon. The performance paid musical tribute to a collection of the most famous timeless soundtracks in cinema history, highlighting the influential relationship between music and film.
The program of the new edition of the European Film Festival includes 22 films from Europe and Jordan, including critically acclaimed and prestigious award-winning works, covering a variety of cinematic genres including drama, documentaries, comedy, family films, sci-fi, and sports.
Festival screenings will continue until October 1, 2026, at the Royal Film Commission headquarters in Amman, as well as in a number of the Kingdom's governorates, allowing audiences outside the capital to enjoy the festival experience. All screenings are free to the public.
The festival is also hosting a number of European filmmakers, including the directors of the films representing Cyprus and Austria, who will attend the screenings of their films and participate in two post-screening Q&A sessions with the audience.
The closing evening of the festival will take place on October 1 at 8:00 PM with the screening of the Jordanian film “SINK”, directed by Zain Duraie, followed by a discussion session with the director.
The Ambassador of the European Union, Pierre-Christophe Chatzisavvas, stated:
“Cinema has a unique power to help us see the world from a different perspective and to bring us closer together. The European Film Festival is an invitation to discover the depth of the bonds that bring Jordanians and Europeans together through our shared emotions and aspirations. We hope that as many Jordanians as possible will join us on this new journey and enjoy this token of friendship offered by Europe.”
Mohannad Al-Bakri, Managing Director of the Royal Film Commission, said:
“The Commission's participation in this festival comes in line with its strategic objectives of spreading cinema culture and enhancing the presence of cinema in society. Film festivals are not limited in importance to screening films, but rather constitute a bridge for cultural exchange and dialogue.”
This festival is funded by the Delegation of the European Union to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and co-organized with the embassies of EU member states, EUNIC Jordan (European Union National Institutes for Culture), and the Royal Film Commission. The European Film Festival is a prominent cultural milestone celebrating creativity, cooperation, and the shared language of cinema.
The festival program and screening schedule are available through the official channels of the EU Delegation to Jordan and the Royal Film Commission.
