The Amman International Film Festival concluded its sixth edition after nine days of continuous artistic and cultural activities, including Arab and international film screenings, panel discussions, professional meetings, and film project marketing platforms, with wide participation from filmmakers and the public.
The closing ceremony was held at the Al Hussein Cultural Center in the presence of Princess Rym Ali, President of the Festival, Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, and a number of artists and cinema enthusiasts. In her speech, Festival Director Nada Doumani emphasized the festival’s open-minded identity, rooted in its Arab context, noting that the winning films reflect this vision under this year’s theme, “A World Beyond the Text.”
“The Red Offspring,” by Tunisian director Lotfi Achour, won the Black Iris Award for Best Feature Film. Based on a true story, the film depicts the effects of terrorism and violence on marginalized children. Its child star, Ali Al Hilali, received a special mention from the jury for his performance, sharing it with actor Azzam Ahmed for his role in the Palestinian film “Adam’s Songs.” The Palestinian film “To an Unknown World” by Mahdi Fleifel also won the Jury and Audience Awards for its portrayal of two young Palestinians’ journey in search of a better life in Europe despite the difficulties. The Jordanian film “Sesame” received two special mentions: the first for Tamara Oweis for Best Screenwriter in a Debut Experience, and the second for actress Saja Kilani for Best Leading Performance. The film addressed issues of divorce and women’s personal freedom in Jordanian society.
In the Arab Documentary category, Jordanian director Rand Beiruti’s film “Tell Them About Us” won the Jury and Audience Awards, documenting the stories of seven girls of Arab, Kurdish, and Roma origins living in rural Germany. The Egyptian film “Abu Zaabal 89” by director Bassam Mortada also received a Special Jury Mention and the FIPRESCI Award for presenting a personal story related to his father, a former prisoner in Egypt. The Black Iris Award for Best Documentary Film went jointly to the Moroccan film “Your Mother, My Mother” by Samira Al-Mazghabati, which documents her relationship with her mother, and the Lebanese film “We Are Inside” by Farah Kassem, which explores her attempts to reconnect with her father after a long absence.
In the short film category, “A Fleeting Day” by Egyptian-Syrian director Rasha Shaheen won the Black Iris Award, while the Lebanese film “Last Days of Summer” by Pierre Mouzannar received the Jury Prize, and the Egyptian film “Mango” received a Special Mention. The Audience Award for the Short Film went to the Kuwaiti film “And Yes” by Musaed Al-Qadifi.
This year, the festival introduced awards for non-Arab films for the first time. The American film “A Familiar Touch” won the Black Iris Award, while the Swiss film “A Dog on Trial” won the Jury Prize, and the Czech animated film “Tales from a Magical Garden” won the Audience Award. It’s worth noting that the sixth edition of the festival saw the participation of 62 films from 23 countries, affirming its position as an important regional platform that allows Arab and international filmmakers to showcase their works, connect, and exchange experiences within an artistic and cultural atmosphere that supports creativity, free from the usual pretentiousness and ostentation.
