Amman, 10 August 2024 - The Jordan Children's Film Festival (JCFF), organized by the Royal Film Commission – Jordan (RFC), concluded its third edition on Friday 9th of August, with the jury revealing the winning films. 

Over the course of six days, the festival presented a variety of films targeting young people, including six feature-length narrative films and 14 short films from 13 countries, all of which are recent productions and most of which have won international awards. The screenings were followed by inspiring discussions with film specialists, giving children the opportunity to express their opinions and debate beyond the mere viewing experience. 

The adult jury, composed of professionals in the field of audiovisuals – Lina Al Tal, a Jordanian actress and director; Cynthia Mdanat, writer/director of the first animated Jordanian feature film “Saleem”; and Bassem Awad, a Drama educational expert – awarded the Best Feature Film Award for the Indian film “Bird of a Different Feather” by Manohara K. The Best Short Film Award went to the Palestinian film “Hide & Seek” by Rami Abbas. The jury also decided to announce Special Mentions for the animated feature film “Donia and the Princess of Aleppo” by Marya Zarif & André Kadi, and the Czech Film “Big dreams” by Dan Pank, in addition to Special Mentions for the Moroccan short “Bottles” By Yassine El Idrissi, and the American Short “Gold Medel” by Ujjwal Patel.  

In its closing statement, the Jury said, “we extend our thanks to the Royal Film Commission for its efforts in promoting cinematic culture, and commend the idea and management of the Jordan Children’s Film Festival, calling for its continuation and expansion in the future.” 

It is worth noting that the Best Feature Film and the Best Short Film winners receive cash prizes.  

The Child Rights Special Award was introduced at this year's Jordan Children’s Film Festival by UNICEF and granted to the Tunisian film, “The Bus”, showcasing a group of children living in a remote village striving to reach their distant school. Amidst their struggles and relentless efforts to reach their destination, the children hope for a stroke of luck someday, with a bus that would help them overcome the rugged roads and spare them from their daily hardships.  

Samuel Kipngetich Toot, Acting UNICEF Representative to Jordan, who presented the award during the closing ceremony, said, " I am pleased to present today UNICEF’s Child Rights Special Award to recognize initiatives that amplify the voices of children and advocate for their rights. I would like to thank the Royal Film Commission for our fruitful collaboration this year. Cinema acts as a powerful catalyst, a window into an undiscovered world. It fosters empathy and understanding across diverse backgrounds and cultures, transcending borders, and boundaries.” 

The children’s jury, consisting of Elyana Al-Adhami, Selena Rabab'ah, and Salah Al Sadeq, awarded the Best Short Film Award to the Lebanese film “Running with Turtles” directed by Bilal Khreis and produced in 2024.  

The children’s jury said, “We chose the film “Running with the Turtles” for the message of hope and perseverance it conveys, and for the way it deals with the relationship between a brother and sister and how they work together to overcome life’s difficulties, and because it sends an important and inspiring message that we must never give up despite difficult circumstances, and that we must continue our lives and pursue our goals with determination.”  

The audience could also have a say in the selection of its favourite film. It voted for “Dounia and the Princess of Aleppo” by Marya Zarif & Andrena Kadi as the Best Feature Film.  

The festival included a collection of film-related workshops and activities that introduced children to the art of filmmaking and storytelling. 

In order to reach the largest segment of children and ensure their attendance at the festival, screenings were organized in the governorates in the different film centers run by the RFC, such as the Wadi Rum Film Centre.

In order to reach the largest segment of children and ensure their attendance at the festival, screenings were organized in the governorates in the Irbid and Wadi Rum Film Centres, run by the RFC.

About the Royal Film Commission – Jordan 

The Royal Film Commission – Jordan (RFC) is a public institution, with administrative and financial autonomy, established in 2003 with a mandate to promote for and contribute to the development of an internationally competitive Jordanian audio-visual industry. The RFC organizes training workshops, screenings and provides production support services. 

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