Ammon News - Press release: Under the patronage of H.R.H Princess Rym Ali, the French Cultural Center in Amman held a press conference at the Royal Film Commission on the 24th of June. The event was the paving stone for the upcoming Franco-Arab Film Festival which will run in Amman from the 1st till the 9th of July 2009.

In the press conference, it was announced that the Film Festival will run in Jordan for the 15th consecutive year, organized by the Cultural and Cooperation Service of the French Embassy in Jordan and the French Cultural Center, in partnership with the Royal Film Commission, the Greater Amman Municipality and the Shoman Foundation.

Mr. Pierre Colliot, Cultural Counselor of the French Ambassador, said that this annual Festival aims to present to Jordanians 2008 movies that cultural exchange or cooperation between France and countries from the Arab World. He/she added: “The Festival represents a privileged moment for dialogue between professionals from the cinema field and the Jordanian audience.”

For its 15th edition, the Franco-Arab Film Festival will display 15 feature-length movies (fictions and documentaries), including Palestinian, Iraqi, Lebanese, Syrian, Moroccan, Algerian, Tunisian, Egyptian and French movies. Many guests, including directors and actors will be in attendance to present their movie. The Festival will also hold cinema workshops, and a tribute to the late Youssef Chahine, in addition to an animation movie entitled "Princess of the Sun" for younger audiences.

The organizers announced that the Festival will also hold a competition for Jordanian short movies on Tuesday, July 7th, at the Al Hussein Cultural Center, starting at 5pm. A jury of professionals will elect the first and second best short films, and the awards will be presented during the closing reception on July 9th.

Mr. Colliot stated that since it was first held in Jordan, the Franco-Arab Film Festival has presented over 100 movies and hosted more than 50 guests (actors, directors and producers). He/she added that this year, the Festival is hosting the internationally recognized French actress Catherine Deneuve as a guest of honor. The movie she stars in “I Want to See” will be screened on the Opening Day of the Festival, on Wednesday, the 1st of July.

Mr. David Queinnec, French Cultural Center Director, thanked the sponsors of the 15th Franco-Arab Film Festival in Jordan, The Great Municipality of Amman, The Royal Film Commission, The Abdul Hamid Shoman Foundation, Al Hussein Cultural Center, La Banque Société Générale de Jordanie, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Intercontinental Hotel, Mood Fm (92.0), Mazaj Fm (95.3), Beat Fm (1o2.5), Atico, Air France, Orange, Total, Lafarge, Aramex, TV5 Monde, Unifrance and Prime Cinemas. He/she mentioned that information on the Festival, schedule of screenings and other details are found on the Festival website: www.leFestival-jordan.com.

It is worth mentioning that the Film Festival’s closing party will be held at Nai in Al Qasr Motropole Hotel with a special “Made in Marseille” theme, different than the usual “Made in Paris” events regularly hosted by the French Cultural Center in this club.