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Jordanian cinema in 2021 hustle, successes and bans, and an Oscar nomination
By Israa Radaydeh, Jordan News
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Amman — 2021 marked
a milestone for the Jordanian cinematic scene, witnessing banning and
shortlisting an Oscar film, successful international winning screenings of
Jordanian movies, a big hit Netflix series, and much more.اضافة اعلان
For most Jordanian film directors, it was the debut of their cinematic career.
This year the second edition of the Amman International Film Festival - Awal Film was held between August 23 and August 31; 51 films from 26 countries were screened.
The local film industry was responsible for hiring 8,689 local individuals; 657 documentaries, features, short films, series, commercials, music videos were shot in Jordan. The total expenditure on the various projects filmed in Jordan was JD24,946,641, while it stood at JD17,500,000 in 2020, according to the Royal Film Commission (RFC).
Following is a list of some of the most distinguished Jordanian movies:
AlRawabi:In her series, Shomali also underscores challenges faced by young women in high school. (Photo:IMDb)
AlRawabi School for Girls: With six episodes each lasting about 50 minutes, the movie tackles teenage bullying. This Netflix second Jordanian drama is directed by Tima Shomali and written by Shomali, Shirin Kamal, and Islam Alshomali. It stars Andria Tayeh, Rakeen Saad, Noor Taher, and Joanna Arida, among others.
Director Tima Shomali “wanted to make a series that talks about women’s stories from women’s perspective”.
Amira follows the life of a 17-year-old Palestinian who was conceived with the smuggled sperm of her imprisoned father, Anwar. (Photo:IMDb)
Amira: RFC nominated this movie by Mohamed Diab as its official entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards ceremony. RFC later withdrew the nomination, as the film was criticized by the Commission of Detainees Affairs as being “offensive” to all those imprisoned in Israeli prisons and accused of “altering the reality of the prisoners”.
Amira follows the life of a 17-year-old Palestinian who was conceived with the smuggled sperm of her imprisoned father, Anwar. However, when Anwar is discovered to be infertile, Amira’s life turns upside down.
The film is set in Palestine, but was shot in Amman and Salt; it is the first Palestinian film to be directed by an Egyptian. It received positive reviews and won two awards at the 78th Venice International Film Festival, where it had its World Premiere.
The cast includes Jordanian star Saba Mubarak, emerging Jordanian actress Tara Abboud, who plays the role of Amira, Jordanian actor Suhaib Nashawan and Palestinian actors Ali Suliman, Waleed Zuaiter, and Kais Nashif.
The Alleys witnessed a massive turnout at the iconic Piazza Grande as part of the activities of the Locarno Festival. (Photo:IMDb)
The Alleys: Written and directed by Bassel Ghandour, The Alleys witnessed a massive turnout at the iconic Piazza Grande, the biggest outdoor screen in Europe, as part of the activities of the Locarno Festival.
It is the first Jordanian feature film to ever compete at this festival, and the first Arab film to participate in the Piazza Grande since 2008. The film is competing for three awards: the Variety Piazza Grande Award, which is presented by Variety Magazine to assist the international career of a film in the selection, the Audience Award, and the Swatch First Feature Award for the best debut film.
The Alleys is directed and written by Bassel Ghandour and stars Emad Azmi, Munther Rayahneh, Maisa Abd Elhadi, Baraka Rahmani, Nadira Omran, and Nadim Rimawi.
Farha: The film went from classical to modern filming, with a clever palette of colors to highlight Farah’s sophistication in the way she views the world. (Photo:IMDb)
Farha: Directed by Darin J. Sallam, the film, based on true events from the Palestinian 1948 Nakba, got special mention at RSIFF (Red Sea International Film Festival). Ashraf Barhom, Ali Suliman, and Sameera Asir played in the film, which went from classical to modern filming, with a clever palette of colors to highlight Farah’s sophistication in the way she views the world.
Daughters of Abdul-Rahman: The film is based on deep research of social and women struggle against social norms and violence. (Photo:IMDb)
Daughters of Abdul-Rahman: a story of women’s ideological and social liberation, Zaid Abu Hamdan’s debut film draws attention to stereotypical characterizations of women in a community where patriarchy and machismo dominate.
The film is based on deep research of social and women struggle against social norms and violence. It raises issue of family life, domestic violence, underage marriage, customs and traditions, and specifically the upbringing of girls in Arab societies. It also deals with thorny issues such as gender discrimination and the wearing of the niqab.
The films won The Audience Award at Cairo International Film Festival.
Tala'vision: It is the only Arab film to be shortlisted for the Oscars 2022, as well as marking the first time a medium-length film wins two awards at Max Ophuls Film Festival in Germany. (Photo:IMDb)
Tala’vision: Director Murad Abu Eisheh’s movie was shortlisted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (The Oscars), one of 15 films, in its Live Action Short Film Category.
It is the only Arab film to be shortlisted for the Oscars 2022, which will take place on March 27 in Los Angeles. It recently won the Golden Yusr Award at the Short Film Competition in the inaugural edition of RSIFF, raising its tally of international awards to four. It was also screened at the Portland Film Festival.
Tala’vision marks the first time a medium-length film wins two awards at Max Ophuls Film Festival in Germany, nabbing jury and audience awards at its world premiere at the 42nd edition of the festival. The film was also selected by the jury of Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival to join Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Market.
Banning and censorship
Eternals was banned by JMC after it requested a series of edits on the film that Disney and distribution companies were allegedly unwilling to make. (Photo:IMDb)
Jordan joined other Arab countries that censored the Marvel film “Eternals” for allegedly depicting same-sex relationships. Chloé Zhao’s film “Eternals” was banned by Jordan Media Commission (JMC) after it requested a series of edits on the film that Disney and distribution companies were allegedly unwilling to make.
Read more Entertainment
For most Jordanian film directors, it was the debut of their cinematic career.
This year the second edition of the Amman International Film Festival - Awal Film was held between August 23 and August 31; 51 films from 26 countries were screened.
The local film industry was responsible for hiring 8,689 local individuals; 657 documentaries, features, short films, series, commercials, music videos were shot in Jordan. The total expenditure on the various projects filmed in Jordan was JD24,946,641, while it stood at JD17,500,000 in 2020, according to the Royal Film Commission (RFC).
Following is a list of some of the most distinguished Jordanian movies:
AlRawabi:In her series, Shomali also underscores challenges faced by young women in high school. (Photo:IMDb)
AlRawabi School for Girls: With six episodes each lasting about 50 minutes, the movie tackles teenage bullying. This Netflix second Jordanian drama is directed by Tima Shomali and written by Shomali, Shirin Kamal, and Islam Alshomali. It stars Andria Tayeh, Rakeen Saad, Noor Taher, and Joanna Arida, among others.
Director Tima Shomali “wanted to make a series that talks about women’s stories from women’s perspective”.
Amira follows the life of a 17-year-old Palestinian who was conceived with the smuggled sperm of her imprisoned father, Anwar. (Photo:IMDb)
Amira: RFC nominated this movie by Mohamed Diab as its official entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards ceremony. RFC later withdrew the nomination, as the film was criticized by the Commission of Detainees Affairs as being “offensive” to all those imprisoned in Israeli prisons and accused of “altering the reality of the prisoners”.
Amira follows the life of a 17-year-old Palestinian who was conceived with the smuggled sperm of her imprisoned father, Anwar. However, when Anwar is discovered to be infertile, Amira’s life turns upside down.
The film is set in Palestine, but was shot in Amman and Salt; it is the first Palestinian film to be directed by an Egyptian. It received positive reviews and won two awards at the 78th Venice International Film Festival, where it had its World Premiere.
The cast includes Jordanian star Saba Mubarak, emerging Jordanian actress Tara Abboud, who plays the role of Amira, Jordanian actor Suhaib Nashawan and Palestinian actors Ali Suliman, Waleed Zuaiter, and Kais Nashif.
The Alleys witnessed a massive turnout at the iconic Piazza Grande as part of the activities of the Locarno Festival. (Photo:IMDb)
The Alleys: Written and directed by Bassel Ghandour, The Alleys witnessed a massive turnout at the iconic Piazza Grande, the biggest outdoor screen in Europe, as part of the activities of the Locarno Festival.
It is the first Jordanian feature film to ever compete at this festival, and the first Arab film to participate in the Piazza Grande since 2008. The film is competing for three awards: the Variety Piazza Grande Award, which is presented by Variety Magazine to assist the international career of a film in the selection, the Audience Award, and the Swatch First Feature Award for the best debut film.
The Alleys is directed and written by Bassel Ghandour and stars Emad Azmi, Munther Rayahneh, Maisa Abd Elhadi, Baraka Rahmani, Nadira Omran, and Nadim Rimawi.
Farha: The film went from classical to modern filming, with a clever palette of colors to highlight Farah’s sophistication in the way she views the world. (Photo:IMDb)
Farha: Directed by Darin J. Sallam, the film, based on true events from the Palestinian 1948 Nakba, got special mention at RSIFF (Red Sea International Film Festival). Ashraf Barhom, Ali Suliman, and Sameera Asir played in the film, which went from classical to modern filming, with a clever palette of colors to highlight Farah’s sophistication in the way she views the world.
Daughters of Abdul-Rahman: The film is based on deep research of social and women struggle against social norms and violence. (Photo:IMDb)
Daughters of Abdul-Rahman: a story of women’s ideological and social liberation, Zaid Abu Hamdan’s debut film draws attention to stereotypical characterizations of women in a community where patriarchy and machismo dominate.
The film is based on deep research of social and women struggle against social norms and violence. It raises issue of family life, domestic violence, underage marriage, customs and traditions, and specifically the upbringing of girls in Arab societies. It also deals with thorny issues such as gender discrimination and the wearing of the niqab.
The films won The Audience Award at Cairo International Film Festival.
Tala'vision: It is the only Arab film to be shortlisted for the Oscars 2022, as well as marking the first time a medium-length film wins two awards at Max Ophuls Film Festival in Germany. (Photo:IMDb)
Tala’vision: Director Murad Abu Eisheh’s movie was shortlisted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (The Oscars), one of 15 films, in its Live Action Short Film Category.
It is the only Arab film to be shortlisted for the Oscars 2022, which will take place on March 27 in Los Angeles. It recently won the Golden Yusr Award at the Short Film Competition in the inaugural edition of RSIFF, raising its tally of international awards to four. It was also screened at the Portland Film Festival.
Tala’vision marks the first time a medium-length film wins two awards at Max Ophuls Film Festival in Germany, nabbing jury and audience awards at its world premiere at the 42nd edition of the festival. The film was also selected by the jury of Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival to join Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Market.
Banning and censorship
Eternals was banned by JMC after it requested a series of edits on the film that Disney and distribution companies were allegedly unwilling to make. (Photo:IMDb)
Jordan joined other Arab countries that censored the Marvel film “Eternals” for allegedly depicting same-sex relationships. Chloé Zhao’s film “Eternals” was banned by Jordan Media Commission (JMC) after it requested a series of edits on the film that Disney and distribution companies were allegedly unwilling to make.
Read more Entertainment
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