Shoman Cinema

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The Cinema Department strives to make cinematic art an integral part of the cultural landscape in Jordan by enhancing its role as a cultural, educational, and artistic medium through which knowledge can be disseminated.

 About Cinema

The Cinema Committee at the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation was established in late 1989. It is a voluntary committee made up of cinema experts and artists, aimed at diversifying the Foundation’s cultural activities and fostering interaction with various Arab and international cultures. This is rooted in the belief that cinema, as one of the most important, widespread, and influential arts, has a unique creative language.

From the beginning, the Cinema Committee has carefully selected high-quality films and discussed them with the audience. Film screenings were accompanied by brochures that included analyses and information about the film and its creators. After each screening, discussions were held, allowing participants to exchange opinions and ideas about the film’s artistic and intellectual themes. These discussions aimed to deepen the audience’s understanding of the film and foster a higher level of appreciation. The conversations were marked by seriousness and insight.

Due to the success of the film screenings, a Cinema Department was officially established within the Foundation’s administrative structure in 1992, in cooperation with the Cinema Committee, which continued its mission of promoting cinematic culture by expanding its activities and introducing new, ongoing, and innovative initiatives.

Target Audience

The Cinema Department targets individuals passionate about and interested in cinema and its productions, aged 18 and above, as well as those working in the film industry and students studying cinema.

 Achievements and Success Stories

Since its inception, the Cinema Department has hosted many renowned Arab critics and filmmakers, including the film critic and researcher Samir Farid, director Michel Khalifa, directors Jean Chamoun and Mai Masri, among others. Additionally, it has welcomed various cinematic figures in specialized workshops and seminars, such as: artist Ayman Zidan, artist Asser Yassin, critic Mohamed Rouda, writer Ahmed Mourad, director Qais Al-Zubaidi, director Hamid Ben Amara, director Bahij Hojeij, director Fawzi Saleh, and many more. The department has also organized numerous Arab and international film weeks.

One of the department's notable achievements is its discovery of the first Jordanian feature film, *Struggle in Jerash*, produced in 1957. To preserve this cinematic document, the film was transferred from 35mm to video and was screened during a ceremony honoring the pioneers of Jordanian cinema.

Partners

The Cinema Department at the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation has established numerous partnerships, including with the Royal Film Commission, European and Asian embassies, the French Cultural Center, the Goethe Institute, the Russian Cultural Center, the ASEAN Union, the Royal Jordanian Film Commission, the General Organization for Cinema in Damascus, the Egyptian National Center for Cinema, the Moroccan National Cinema Center, and various Arab and international film distribution companies (MAD Solutions, Mek Film, Film Clinic).

Cinema Programs

Weekly Screenings

These are weekly film screenings held every Tuesday evening, where the Cinema Department presents films from various countries around the world. These films are carefully selected and include a collection of classical masterpieces, modern, experimental, and artistic films, as well as films that have attracted large audiences from diverse social backgrounds and tastes. The screenings introduce viewers to a variety of cinematic styles. Weekly screenings are usually accompanied by written analysis of the films and a discussion with the audience after the screening.

The first weekly screening at the Foundation was organized in November 1989, aiming to diversify the cultural activities at the Foundation and promote cinematic culture.

To know the schedule and details of upcoming film screenings, you can visit the event calendar by clicking here.

Movie Weeks

These are themed film weeks where the department showcases a series of films that share a common theme, such as a film week dedicated to a specific country, director, or topic. The department ensures that the films selected are of high artistic quality. Three film weeks are held annually, and filmmakers are invited to participate in the event and engage in discussions with the audience after the screenings, allowing the local audience to take part in a cultural dialogue with prominent Arab directors and artists.

The first film week was organized in 1992, and over the years, more than 50 film weeks have been held in partnership with diplomatic institutions and cultural centers from the Arab world and abroad, such as the Egyptian National Center for Cinema, the General Organization for Cinema in Syria, the Moroccan National Center for Cinema, the French Cultural Center, the Goethe Institute, the Russian Cultural Center, and others. Film weeks have also been organized for notable directors, including Syrian director Mohamed Malas, Egyptian director Daoud Abdel Sayed, Palestinian director Michel Khalifa, and others.

Workshops

These are specialized workshops in various cinematic fields. The department offers two workshops annually at the Foundation, aimed at building the skills of those interested in cinema and enhancing their knowledge of the art. The department carefully selects training topics that consider current cinematic trends and the needs of the contemporary cinematic scene. The workshops are led by highly skilled Jordanian and Arab trainers, helping young people expand their horizons.

Some of the workshops held in recent years include: "The Art of Documentary Filmmaking" by Algerian director Hamid Ben Amara, "Cinematography and Lighting" by cinematographer Hanna Ward, held in collaboration with the Royal Film Commission, "How to Read a Film?" by film critic Mohamed Rouda, and "Digital Techniques in Contemporary Cinema" by Dr. Ahmed Al-Faleh, among others.

Workshops are announced on social media, accompanied by a registration link for each workshop.

Cinema Club

In recognition of the importance of creating a community interested in cinema and discussing major artistic works, the Cinema Club was established at the beginning of 2021. The club hosts discussion sessions focused on specialized cinematic topics, in which interested young people participate. The sessions are presented by members of the Cinema Committee, who are knowledgeable critics and journalists. Each session focuses on a single cinematic topic, discussed interactively.

To know the schedule and details of the next Cinema Club session, you can visit the event calendar by clicking here.

Movie Marathon 

The Movies Marathon is an engaging cultural event that celebrates the art of cinema by showcasing a series of carefully curated films back-to-back over a full day. This activity is designed to bring together movie enthusiasts of all ages, fostering a shared appreciation for diverse storytelling, cinematography, and thought-provoking themes.

Each marathon follows a specific theme—whether it's highlighting a particular director, genre, or social issue—offering participants a unique cinematic journey. Alongside screenings, the event includes interactive elements such as discussions with filmmakers, trivia games, and audience voting for favorite films.

The Movies Marathon aims to create a dynamic and inclusive atmosphere, connecting attendees with a love for cinema while promoting dialogue around cultural and artistic expressions. Whether you’re a casual viewer or a dedicated cinephile, this event offers a memorable experience that inspires, entertains, and educates.

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Film Committee 

A committee of film experts and artists that was established in 1989 to diversify the cultural activities in the Foundation and create an atmosphere of engagement with different cultures. The committee works on selecting distinct types of films and discussing them with the audience during the weekly shows, in addition to inviting Arab directors, hosting artists, to spread film culture in the community.

Adnan Madanat

Film director and researcher, Adnan holds a master's degree in television and documentary film from Moscow University in 1970. He directed the following documentaries:

- "Sulaymaniyah Hospital" 1971

- "A melody for several chapters" 1973

- "Wedding Color" 1973

- "News about Tal Al-Zaatar" 1976

- "Palestinian Visions" 1977

He also wrote the script for the TV movie “An Extraordinary Visit” directed by Najda Anzour. He prepared the script for the Jordanian feature film “An Oriental Story” for Anzour. In 1991, he prepared the TV program “Film from a Book” for the Near East TV production and the TV program “Black and White” for the Arab Center for production.

Member of the jury in many Arab and international film festivals, cinema consultant at the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation, he has written criticism in several Arab newspapers and published written and translated books in cinema and literature.

Najeh Hassan

Film critic and researcher, member of the Jordanian Writers Association, penned many studies and film research in various Arab newspapers and magazines, founding member of the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation Film Committee. Headed the cultural department of the Jordan News Agency "Petra". He participated in many Arab and international film events and shows in Amman.

He has published several books on film criticism, including:

- "Cinema and Cinematic Culture in Jordan", Dar Al-Bairaq, Amman, 1991.

- “Now on the white screen”, Dar Al-Nisr, Amman 1992

- "Cinematic Anthology" (co-authored), Shoman Foundation, Amman, 1996.

- "Atbat Al-Bahja: Writing in Jordanian Films", Amman 2013.

- "Shashat al-Nur... Screens of Light", Amman, 2005.

- "Jordanian Cinema: Manifestaions and Dreams", Amman 2018.

Rania Haddad

Film critic and architect, she holds a bachelor's degree in architecture from the University of Jordan, and a diploma in film and television arts from Al-Khwarizmi College. A member of the Jordanian Writers Association, she has written for many local and Arab newspapers and websites, and a book titled "The Screen of Dreams and Pain - Cinematic Films" was published for her. Rania presented several working papers related to cinema, including "Cinema and Network of Funding", and "The Image of Women in Jordanian Feature Films between 1957-2018". She directed several programs and short films, in addition to her work in the engineering field.

Rasmy Mahasneh

Journalist and film critic, cultural and artistic editor in many newspapers and news websites, Secretary of the Jordanian Film Club until 1989, and a member of the Film Committee at the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation since its establishment until today. He prepared weekly programs on Jordan TV and evaluated many television programs, series, and scripts.

Rasmy held many jobs; He was the secretary of the Film and Video Censorship Board at the Ministry of Information, head of the local press department in the Department of Press & Publications, and director of compilations at the Media Authority.

He was a member of several jury committees, such as the Nadoor Film Festival Committee, the Karama Festival Committee, and the Arab Critics Award Committee at the Damascus Film Festival. He participated in many local, Arab, and international film festivals.

He is the author of many books. He participated in the publications of the Film Committee at the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation, the book "Things for Life" published in Egypt, and the book "Cinema and Life - Models of Arab Cinema", about the Jordanian Ministry of Culture.

Radwan Masannat

Film critic and retired dentist graduated from Damascus University in 1965. He practiced medicine until 2011.

Photographer and founding member of the Jordan Photographic Society, member of the administrative board of the Jordanian Chess Club for one year, active in many film clubs, and a founding member of the Film Committee of the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation in 1989.

He has many translations and articles on film criticism.

Noureddin Shubeita

Noureddine is a published author. So far, he's published two novels, a collection of short tales, and a collection of handwritten poems. A member of "Al Nawaris" poetic group. He studied engineering at university and worked in international and local organizations in the development and training sector. For two years, he was in charge of the Film House library at the Royal Film Commission, where he also graduated as a producer from the Commission's filmmaking course and served as an assistant coach in a number of critique and animation courses. At the Royal Film Commission, he organized two cinema clubs, one of which was dedicated to library visitors. For three years, he worked as a director in the educational film industry, and currently works as a teacher's resources support specialst in a private school. He has provided a number of technical consultations for film scripts and teaches creative and analytical writing classes.

Mahmoud Al-Zawawi (Former committee member)

Critic and writer specializing in world cinema. He holds both a bachelor's and master's degree from George Washington University. He served as director of the Arabic section of the Voice of America between (1987-1994). He took the position of bureau chief and Voice of America correspondent in the Middle East. He has published 13 books on American Film and has written and translated scripts for many short films. He also offered multiple training courses, penned articles and investigative reports for many newspapers in Washington and the Arab countries.

Cinematic Content

Several topics were raised in this context, such as the author's cinema, the cinema of Mohamed Malas as a model, the green screen, color and lighting in the cinema, and others.

Movie of the Month

A monthly screening that presents educational film content in a rich and smooth format highlighting international film masterpieces, to enrich the Arab cinematic content on the Internet. The program is posted on the Foundation's social media accounts, for ease of access for young generations and cinema lovers.

Creative Film Scenes

A film publication that sheds light on creative film scenes by showing those scenes with a text explaining the areas of beauty and distinction. Visually and intellectually, Film is an art that depends mainly on the picture, and films contain many amazing and creative cinematic scenes that carry artistic and intellectual connotations and messages that make those scenes attached to memory and part of the generation’s culture.