In an outdoor amphitheater, with a sweeping view of old downtown Amman and the Citadel, a large screen and a high quality sound system, the Royal Film Commission welcomes cinema buffs in Jordan to watch and discuss a variety of films from all over the world.

The screenings showcase short, documentary and feature films directed by Jordanian, regional and international filmmakers. But, the RFC doesn’t only reach out to film lovers in the capital, it is keen on showing them in the governorates where theaters are unavailable. Films are selected carefully and are screened in Amman on its premises – at the Film House - or at the Hussein Cultural Center or the Royal Cultural Center. All RFC-sponsored events are free of charge and give the audience the opportunity to get exposed to quality films that are not shown in commercial theaters or on television. During the screenings, film directors or film critics are sometimes present to discuss the pictures with the public, to debate and explain the stories and to give tips and insight on technical aspects related to filmmaking.

The screenings organized by the RFC are sometimes held in cooperation with cultural institutions such as Al Balad Theater in Amman. Different embassies or cultural centers like the French, the Spanish and the Swiss, just to name a few, along with the EU Commission are also partnering with the RFC within the framework of their cultural agendas. Through those events, a multitude of films from different cultures and backgrounds are being shown to a wide audience in Jordan.

The RFC’s cooperation with the Ministry of Youth and Sport has also helped spread cinema culture in the governorates through its “Alternative Cinema Project”. The project sponsors and organizes on a monthly basis screenings in the twelve governorates of the Kingdom. It thus promotes cinema culture and raises awareness in local communities about the importance of films and filmmaking.

The Royal Film Commission’s main objective, in regularly organizing film screenings, is to reach the widest possible audience so that Jordanians, in the capital as well as in the various cities and towns, can expand their cinematographic knowledge and meet different cultures from all over the world. The screenings allow filmmakers to view the works produced by other directors, and to see important quality films. Moreover, by developing and nurturing a local audience interested in cinema, the RFC builds the necessary base for a strong and sustainable Jordanian film industry.