Amman International Film Festival Announces Jury Members for Its 7th Edition 🎬✨

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

This year’s juries bring together acclaimed filmmakers, actors, composers, and cinema professionals from Jordan, the Arab world, and beyond to evaluate the festival’s official competition selections.

Black Iris Award Jury for Best Arab Feature Narrative Film 🎬

Celebrating debut feature films by directors, or second features featuring a first-time screenwriter or lead actor/actress.

The jury includes:

• Hend Sabry: Tunisian actress and one of the Arab world’s most prominent stars, known for The Silences of the Palace and Four Daughters.
• Joana Hadjithomas: Lebanese filmmaker, known alongside Khalil Joreige for acclaimed works including Je Veux Voir and Memory Box.
• Khalid Abdalla: Egyptian-British actor and activist known for The Crown, The Kite Runner, and The Last Days of the City.
• Tareq Al Nasser: Jordanian composer known for his influential work in Arab television dramas and soundtracks.

Black Iris Award Jury for Best Arab Feature Documentary Film 🎥

Dedicated to Arab documentary films over 52 minutes, highlighting first or second feature-length documentaries.

The jury includes:

• Christian Frei: Swiss documentary director and producer, whose film War Photographer received an Academy Award nomination.
• Dalia Al Kury: Jordanian filmmaker known for films exploring resilience and everyday life in the Arab world.
• Rabab Haj Yahya: Palestinian documentary editor known for Coexistence, My Ass!, which received multiple international awards.

Black Iris Award Jury for Best Arab Short Film 🎞️

Open to narrative and animated short films under 30 minutes, with a special award for Best Jordanian Short Film.

The jury includes:

• Ahmed Yassin Al Daradji: Iraqi writer-director and winner of the AIFF Jury Award for Hanging Gardens.
• Majd Eid: Jordanian actor and award-winning performer known for Once Upon a Time in Gaza, Simsim, and The Alleys.
• Tima Shomali: Jordanian director, founder and CEO of Filmizion Productions, and creator of Netflix’s Al-Rawabi School for Girls.

Black Iris Award Jury for Best Non-Arab Film 🌍

Recognizing non-Arab debut feature films from around the world.

The jury includes:

• Brillante Mendoza: Filipino filmmaker and Cannes Best Director winner for Kinatay.
• Saleh Bakri: Palestinian actor known for his work in Arab and international cinema, including Palestine 36 and All That’s Left of You.
• Suad Bushnaq: Jordanian-Canadian film composer and Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences member.

FIPRESCI Jury Award (Arab Feature Documentary) 🎥

The award will recognize one documentary film from the official selection.

The jury includes:

• Israa Radaydeh: Jordanian film journalist, critic, and FIPRESCI member.
• Letícia Alassë: French-Brazilian journalist and film critic based in Paris.
• Paulo Portugal: Portuguese film journalist and PhD researcher focused on cinema and human rights.

Audience Awards ⭐

Audience Awards will be presented across the festival’s four competitive categories:
Arab Feature Narrative Film, Arab Feature Documentary Film, Arab Short Film, and Non-Arab Feature Film, celebrating the films that connect most with festival audiences.

The 7th edition of the Amman International Film Festival – Awal Film will take place from 26 July to 3 August 2026, continuing its mission of celebrating emerging filmmakers and bringing Arab and international cinema to Amman.

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.