"Shoman" Cinema

The Film Department seeks to make cinematic art a vital part of the cultural scene in Jordan, by strengthening its role as an artistic, cultural, and educational medium that broadens the intellect.

About us 

The Film Department was launched in 1989, when Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation formed a Film Committee comprised of a group of volunteer film experts and artists, to enhance the artistic activities in the Foundation through interactions with different Arab and international cultures, using the creative language of cinema, as one of the most central, widespread, influential, and interactive arts.

In the film department, the committee works on selecting distinct films and debating them with the audience. A pamphlet containing information on the film and its producers is handed out to the audience to start a debate that delves into the film's artistic and intellectual content while gaining a better and deeper understanding of the work presented and the film's objective, resulting in lively and engaging discussions.

In 1992, the success of the screening experiment led to a collaboration between the film department and the film committee that resulted in cinema becoming an integral part of the Foundation, which maintains its mission to spread film culture by continuously adding new, content and activities.

Target group

The Film Department targets individuals aged 18 and above, who are passionate about the film industry and movie production, in addition to film professionals and students.

Achievements and Success Stories

The Film Department has hosted many distinguished Arab film critics and filmmakers, including film critic and researcher Mr. Samir Farid, directors Jean Chamoun and Mai Al-Masry, and others. In addition to many film guests attending seminars and workshops specialized in cinematic culture, including artist Ayman Zeidan, artist Aser Yassin, critic Muhammad Reda, writer Ahmed Murad, director Qais Al-Zubaidi, director Hamid Ben Amra, director Bahij Hojeij, director Fawzi Saleh, and others. (Photo Gallery)

The Film Department of the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation helped with the finding of the first Jordanian feature film: “Struggle in Jerash”, which was produced in 1957, and converted from 35 mm to a videotape to help preserve it.   The film was screened as part of a ceremony honoring the first pioneers of Jordanian Film.

Film Programs

Weekly Screenings

They are film shows that take place every Tuesday evening, during these events, film screenings from different countries of the world take place.  The films are carefully selected and include classic masterpieces, modern, experimental, and artistic films, in addition to films that have attracted large numbers of movie pioneers from different backgrounds, social circles, and tastes, helping to introduce the audience to a variety of cinematic styles. Weekly screenings are usually accompanied by a written analysis of the film, and a discussion with the audience after the show.

The first weekly show to take place was organized in November 1989.

Film Weeks

Film week is when a group of films that bear a specific common link is shown, such as films from a certain country, director, or topic.  The films displayed are highly appraised and artistic movies.  Film week takes place three weeks out of every year. Filmmakers are invited to attend and engage with the audience after the show, making room for the local audience to participate in a cultural dialogue with the most prominent Arab artists and directors.

The first film week was organized in 1992, and over the years more than 50 film weeks were held in partnership with diplomatic associations and Arab and international cultural centers, such as the National Center for Cinema in Egypt, the General Film Organization in Syria, the National Center for Cinema in Morocco, the French Cultural Center, Goethe-Institut, Russian Cultural Center, and others. Film weeks were also prearranged for important directors, such as Syrian director Muhammad Malas, Egyptian director Daoud Abdel Sayed, Palestinian director Michel Khleifi, and others.

Workshops

These are focused training in varying film fields.  Two workshops are held annually within the Foundation, and they aim to boost the capabilities of those interested in the film industry and further develop the film-making culture. The department selects topics that meet the needs and requirements of the current cinematic scene, and the training is taught by highly qualified Jordanian and Arab instructors to help young individuals expand their knowledge.

Among the workshops offered in recent years: The "Art of Documentary Film Direction", which was presented by Algerian director Hamid Ben Amra. The "Cinematography and Lighting" workshop presented by the Director of Cinematography, Mr. Hanna Ward, and was held in cooperation with the Royal Film Commission. The workshop "How to read film?" Presented by film critic Mohamed Reda. "Digital Techniques in Contemporary Cinema" workshop, presented by Dr. Ahmed Al-Falih, and many others.

Workshops are posted on social media, and a registration link is added for each training.

Film Club

Believing in the importance of creating a society interested in film and discussing the most prominent works of art, the Film Club was established at the beginning of the year 2021, to promote a society that believes in the importance of art in film and creating a dialogue around specialized cinematic topics, with the participation of interested youth, and presented by members of the Film Committee consisting of skilled and knowledgeable critics and journalists. One film topic is chosen at a time to be discussed in an interactive setting.

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.