Next week, the fourth edition of the Amman International Film Festival - First Film will kick off in Jordan, featuring 56 films, both feature and short, as well as documentaries from 19 countries. The festival management stated in a press release that among the selected films, 11 will premiere in the Arab world, and five will have their world premiere, accompanied by discussions between the audience and filmmakers. The participating films represent Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Sudan, Iraq, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Yemen, Palestine, Jordan, Turkey, Iran, Canada, the United States, Spain, Georgia, Nicaragua, and France.
The festival will open on August 15 with the Palestinian film "Gaza Week" directed by Basil Khalil and starring Adam Bakri, Mona Hawa, and Stephen Mangan. The films will compete in four competitions for the Black Iris Award, in addition to a special non-competitive section titled "A Date with French-Arab Cinema," featuring films either from France or co-produced with France.
The festival also highlights Jordanian cinema through a program called "Spotlight on Short Jordanian Films," showcasing two films by veteran directors Samer Batikhi and Murad Abu Aisha. Screenings will take place at Taj Cinema, the Abdali drive-in cinema, the Royal Film Commission’s outdoor theater, and the Rainbow Theater, with some screenings also offered in the provinces.
Festival director Nada Doumani stated in television remarks that the festival is still young but is growing rapidly, affirming each year its uniqueness by focusing on the first works of directors, screenwriters, and actors. She added that the parallel activities include open meetings, discussions, and workshops focusing on two main themes: "Ethics in Documentary Filmmaking" and "Artificial Intelligence in Filmmaking."
The festival will host Palestinian director Mai Masri in the "First and Latest" section to speak about her first film and her latest film along with the journey in between.
