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AMMAN — The sixth edition of the Amman International Film Festival – Awal Film (AIFF) opened on Wednesday evening at the Hussein Cultural Centre, ushering in nine days of film screenings and industry events under the theme “A World Unscripted.”
Held in the presence of HRH Princess Rym Ali, President of the Festival, the opening ceremony was attended by HRH Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, President of the Royal Film Commission, alongside HRH Prince Abdullah Bin Ali, HRH Princess Jalila Bint Ali, senior government officials, diplomats, and prominent figures from the regional and international film industries.
In her keynote speech, Princess Rym said this year’s theme reflects a growing international disconnect from diplomacy, dialogue, and shared norms.
"This is the world we now live in; one that has turned its back on diplomacy, dialogue, and international norms," she said. "It is as if the world has chosen a different language: one of madness and silence."
She also emphasised that these conditions are not permanent. "This world is not a train that cannot stop," she told the audience.
"You, the filmmakers we celebrate here, and you, the audiences who give meaning to their work, are the voices breaking that silence. You bring empathy to a world growing more callous, and stories to a world that desperately needs them."
Princess Rym described this year’s edition as a cultural stand against despair. "Stories do not stop destruction," she said, "but they restore names and faces to the dead. They remind us that we are not only pain and war. We also live, love, hope, and create."
She underscored the festival’s mission of spotlighting first-time filmmakers from the Arab world and beyond, and bringing their voices to local and regional audiences.
She also highlighted the longstanding support of His Majesty King Abdullah for Jordan’s cultural and creative industries and praised Prince Ali’s visionary role in founding the Royal Film Commission, which helped launch and sustain the festival.
Princess Rym extended her gratitude to the festival’s public and private sector sponsors, including the Jordan Tourism Board, Abdali Investment, Royal Jordanian Airlines, and Zain, as well as individual Jordanian supporters.
This year’s edition includes a special spotlight on Irish cinema, represented by acclaimed filmmaker Jim Sheridan, who attended the opening and addressed the audience, reflecting on his career in drama and documentary filmmaking.
The 2025 program features 11 Jordanian films, five Jordanian projects currently in development, and six short films produced in Gaza by Palestinian filmmakers.
The evening’s ceremony, hosted by actress Zein Awad and journalist Mohannad Jazeera, featured musical performances and a traditional Circassian dance by the New Generation troupe.
The event concluded with the screening of Behind the Mountains, directed by acclaimed Palestinian filmmaker Maha Haj, marking the official launch of this year’s film program.
