Karama Festival is back in its 12th edition

AMMAN — December 5 marked the return of the Karama Human Rights Film Festival, which aims at telling powerful human stories that elicit emotions and speak to the audience; that was the case of the film "Amira," which opened the 12th edition of this cultural event.اضافة اعلان

This year’s festival, held at the Royal Cultural Centre until December 12, is being held under the theme "Human rights in a virtual world."

Before the screening of Amira began, the audience that the opportunity to view the exhibition of local artists Zaid Sharbachi and Mohammed Abdel-Hadi, who propose important visual images through an elegant contemporary narrative.
"I give people ideas about how to talk about important things by breaking the algorithm. We cannot put images of the martyrs of Gaza. This is an image of the child who was a victim of war, and I covered it with the message of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo,” Sharbachi told Jordan News.


(Photos: Majo Tielve/ Jordan News)

Waiting for the screening of Amira, Jordan News talked to some people in the audience.

"I am so excited that the festival is back. I had no idea what Karama meant to me, it has been two years, but last year was online, and it is not the same," said Lamis Abuaziza.

“We look forward to this festival year after year. I have attended all 12 editions. Something essential in this edition is the situation generated by the pandemic. In Jordan, there has been an increase in cases of assaults on women, and to be able to deal with such delicate issues through art seems very powerful to me,” said activist Ahkam Dajani.


(Photos: Majo Tielve/ Jordan News)

"This year's Karama HRFF allows us to experience a global reality that has changed the way we relate to each other and has led us to drift into diverse narratives that call for modern art," said festival Director Sawsan Darwazeh.
Over eight days, the audience will be presented with 50 films from 20 countries. The official selection includes "Room without a view," "Premium Baby," "Washing Machine," "A Home of One's Own," documentaries, short fiction and animation.


(Photos: Majo Tielve/ Jordan News)

Actor Suhaib Nashwan, who played Ziad in the movie Amira, directed by Mohamed Diab, said: "I am very excited that this is the Jordanian premiere of Amira. As a Jordanian actor, the most important thing is the acceptance of the audience at home. I feel very grateful to Diab for this opportunity. It is my first leading role in a feature film. The film allowed me to work with actors I have always admired, and I felt very confident about my performance in the film."
A challenge he faced was the short deadline for the script, as his character was one of the last to be cast.


(Photos: Majo Tielve/ Jordan News)

"I remember I had to learn my lines days before I went into filming," he said.
Diab’s film manages to deliver a wonderful first act, but fails to keep up the pace throughout the story.

The film tries to expose the socio-political realities of Palestinians, the daily oppression and the true meaning of living under occupation, denied a normal life.

At times the film may lose the essence of the Palestinian reality, but it is an effort that makes clear that the only thing the Palestinians are fighting for is the universal right to be alive.

The film’s end may be considered predictable and may seem fictitious, but it is a sad reality.


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