AIFF Announces Public Conversations Programme Featuring Leading Cinema Voices 🎬✨

The Amman International Film Festival – Awal Film (AIFF) has announced its Public Conversations Programme for its seventh edition, taking place from 26 July to 3 August 2026.

The programme will bring audiences closer to some of the most influential figures in regional and international cinema, including Tunisian actress and producer Hend Sabry, Tunisian producer Dora Bouchoucha, actor and activist Khalid Abdalla, and acclaimed Filipino filmmaker Brillante Mendoza.

Through a series of conversations, AIFF continues its mission of being more than a film screening platform — creating a space for audiences and filmmakers to connect, exchange ideas, and explore the journeys behind some of cinema’s most impactful voices.

First and Latest: Dora Bouchoucha 🎥

📍 Royal Film Commission – Jordan
📅 1 August | 8:00 PM
🎙️ Moderated by Bassam Alasad

Celebrated Tunisian producer Dora Bouchoucha will reflect on her remarkable career, from her earliest productions to her latest projects, including her collaborations with leading Tunisian and Arab filmmakers.

The conversation will also explore her contribution to film development initiatives such as Sud Écriture and the Carthage Film Festival, alongside insights into today’s film financing landscape and the world of international co-productions.

In Conversation with Khalid Abdalla: Artivism, The Artist as a Driver of Change 🎭

📍 Rainbow Theatre
📅 27 July | 6:00 PM
🎙️ Moderated by Mary Nazzal-Batayneh

Actor, writer, and activist Khalid Abdalla will discuss the relationship between art, identity, politics, and social responsibility.

The conversation will explore how artists can use their platforms to engage with the issues shaping our world while creating meaningful work beyond simple messages or statements.

In Conversation with Hend Sabry: Beyond the Role, Journey Across Arab Cinema 🎬

📍 Rainbow Theatre
📅 29 July | 6:00 PM
🎙️ Moderated by Fadi G. Haddad

From her beginnings in Tunisian cinema to becoming one of the Arab world’s most celebrated actors, Hend Sabry will reflect on her journey across decades of cinema.

The discussion will explore her approach to choosing roles, developing characters, evolving as an artist, and navigating the changing landscape of Arab cinema.

In Conversation with Brillante Mendoza After Ma’ Rosa Screening 🎥

📍 Rainbow Theatre
📅 31 July | 8:00 PM
🎙️ Moderated by Murad Abu Eisheh

Following the screening of Ma’ Rosa at 6:00 PM, acclaimed Filipino filmmaker Brillante Mendoza will join audiences for a conversation about his cinematic style, his approach to storytelling, and his commitment to portraying the lives of ordinary people with honesty and humanity.

With a career spanning more than two decades, Mendoza will share insights into his filmmaking process and directing actors.

The Amman International Film Festival – Awal Film continues to bring together filmmakers, industry professionals, and audiences through conversations that celebrate cinema, creativity, and the stories behind the screen.

📅 26 July – 3 August 2026
📍 Amman, Jordan

The Festival is made possible with the support of its partners, including: Jordan Tourism Board, The Royal Film Commission – Jordan, Abdali Investment and Development, Zain Jordan, Royal Jordanian, Ministry of Culture, Ghiath & Nadia Sukhtian Foundation, Greater Amman Municipality, Cozmo, FromSoda, TAJ Cinemas, and Institut Français – Jordan.

Media Partners: Jordan Radio and Television Corporation, Al Mamlaka, Roya Media Group, Radio Hala, Bliss 104.3, Mazaj FM, Play 99.5, Pikasso Jordan, and 7Hills.