The 34th edition of the European Film Festival (EUFF) kicked off Sunday evening at the Haya Cultural Center in Amman.
The event was held under the patronage of HRH Princess Rym Ali, member of the Royal Film Commission (RFC) Board of Commissioners and was funded by the European Union (EU), and organized by EU embassies in partnership with the European Union National Institutes for Culture in Jordan (EUNIC) and in cooperation with the RFC, the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) and Haya Cultural Center.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, EU Ambassador to Jordan Maria Hadjitheodosiou said the 34th edition of the European Film Festival, the longest-running film festival in Jordan, since its creation has been the EU’s flagship event on the cultural calendar in the country.
“Each year, we bring the Jordanian and European communities together, opening up a space for intercultural cooperation, exchange, diversity, dialogue and enhancement of our shared values,” Hadjitheodosiou added.
“Together with EU Member States’ embassies and cultural institutes, we bring to the public in Amman, the opportunity to discover Europe’s people, landscapes and traditions, and to marvel at productions that do not reach commercial cinemas. This year we present 15 recent European productions, and an award-winning Jordanian movie,” she explained.
Hadjitheodosiou said cultural diversity is an integral part of the values of the European Union and the EU is strongly committed to promoting a global order based on peace, the rule of law, freedom of expression, mutual understanding and respect for fundamental rights.
Accordingly, promoting diversity through international cultural relations is an important part of the EU’s role as a global actor, she added.
This, Hadjitheodosiou noted, involves a commitment to both promoting ‘international cultural relations’, through the support and assistance the EU provides to third countries, and supporting the promotion of the Union and the diverse cultures of EU Member States through ‘cultural diplomacy.’
The EU, she underlined, has a lot to offer to the world: diversity of cultural expressions, high quality artistic creation and a vibrant creative industry.
She lauded Jordan’s role in promoting cultural appreciation and understanding, protecting diversity and cultural heritage, and fighting extremism is commendable. And it is for these reasons – and the wonderful landscape- that in the field of cinema, Jordan, almost every year is chosen by numerous European productions as a filming location.
“Since 2022 is the European Year of Youth this year’s festival is dedicated to the generation of young men and women that has suffered the most during the pandemic,” Hadjitheodosiou said.
“We want to take this opportunity to shine a light on the important role youth can play in building a better future, a greener, a more inclusive and digital future, with plenty of opportunities to learn and interact with each other,” Hadjitheodosiou added.
The RFC Managing Director, Mohannad Bakri, said Cinema was born in Europe and Europeans were the pioneers of the motion picture industry, which dates back 130 years.
“European cinema has always been distinguished by telling stories about the real world,” Bakri added.
He expressed the RFC’s appreciation for its partnership with the European Film Festival, which began in 2008.
“This year, we are to take part in screening a couple of the festival’s movies at our film centers in the governorates, namely Irbid and Aqaba.”
Director of the Haya Cultural Center, Reem Arida, said 34th edition of the European Film Festival (EUFF) coincides with the 46th anniversary of the foundation of the Haya Cultural Center.
She highlighted the center’s tasks and role since its establishment in 1976.
She also highlighted the role of the center’s cultural village, which is directed to the development of children’s knowledge, perceptions and culture.
The event opened with the screening of the Czech documentary “Civilization”.
Ambassador of the Czech Republic in Amman, Josef Koutsky, extended a warm welcome to the audience and stated that Jordan is a model for cooperation between EU member states and their partners.
The Czech Republic has participated in the festival for the past 14 years, to which he expressed pride. The amabsaddor spoke about “Civilization” and mentioned that the film was shot on five different continents.
According to Koutsky, the film debuted in Czech cinemas on October 22, 2022, and is now making its first international debut in Jordan.
Source: Jordan News Agency