Film Festival held for 1st time in Jerash Festival

CAIRO - 28 July 2019: Jerash Festival of Culture and Arts, directed by AymanSamawi, concluded the events of the Film Festival held under the supervisionof Ayman Abdel Moti, for the first time.

During the previous editions of the festival, singing concerts were performed by prominentArab singers, making the festival one of the most important singing events held in the Arab region. The Film Festival’s events ran for a week and included screening short feature films and film trips lead by artists participating in the Jerash Festival. The festival’s opening took place on July 18 and was attended by Jordan’s prime minister, Jordanian minister of culture,in addition to a large number of senior officials.

At the opening ceremony of the festival, numerous cinema and drama stars were honored, including the cast of the Egyptian series “AbouGabal”. The cast includes Mostafa Shaaban, producer HossamShawki (representing Synergy productions), director Ahmed Saleh, TarekLotfi, GamalSoliman and Jordanian stars EyadNassar and MuntherRihaneh.

Among the honorees in the festival’s opening ceremony were Rogina, Madeleine Tabar, Salma el Masry and AmiraNayef, in addition to Head of the Acting Syndicate Ashraf Zaki, Head of the Arab Actors Syndicate MosaadFouda and Jordainian director GalalTeama, among others. The judging committee of the short feature films screening in the festival includesTarek Abdul Aziz, Madeleine Tabar, Jordanian AbeerIssa, Omani director Khalid al Zadjali and Jordanian artist Amal al Dabbas.

For his part, director of Jerash Festival of Culture and Arts AymanSamawi said: “The ancient city is hosting a festival of cinema, within the general festival headed by Ayman Abdel Moti, a step that carries boldness and vision, and the capability to employ the place andadd a new tributary tothe festival.”

At the opening ceremony of the film festival, a documentary film about Jordanian film critic Hassan Abu Ghunaimah–aka “Cinema Lover” - screened. The documentary was directed by Rami Abdel Moti and included meetings with his family, his colleagues and his students toshed light on the humane side of his life, and the great impact he left on the Jordanian cultural scene.