Amman International Film Festival - Awal Film

What Amman International Film Festival - Awal Film does

The Amman International Film Festival - Awal Film (AIFF) is a non-profit cultural organization founded in 2020 and headquartered in Amman, Jordan. It operates an annual debut-focused film festival, with the 7th edition scheduled for 26 July to 3 August 2026 under the theme "Beyond the Frame" (ما وراء الإطار). The core programming comprises four competitive sections - Arab Feature Narrative, Arab Feature Documentary, Arab Short Film, and Non-Arab Debut Feature - culminating in the Black Iris Award (السوسنة السوداء). The festival curates a non-competitive First & Latest section featuring an internationally acclaimed filmmaker each year alongside masterclasses.

The professional arm, Amman Film Industry Days (AFID), runs three pitching platforms (Jordanian first-features, Arab features in development, Arab post-production), the Amman Film Market for filmmaker-to-funder meetings, masterclasses, panels, and a Jordanian Short Film Incubator co-run with the Royal Film Commission-Jordan. AFID additionally houses The Spark Series, described as a first-of-its-kind Arab-world initiative spotlighting web series. The 2026 AFID features 20 projects against aggregate award value on the order of $200K across 19-plus prize-granting partners.

Revenue mechanics span three streams: ticket sales through booking.aiff.jo priced accessibly, accreditation fees for industry professionals, and sponsorships/in-kind support from institutional partners including the Jordan Tourism Board, Royal Film Commission-Jordan, Ministry of Culture, Greater Amman Municipality, Zain Jordan, Royal Jordanian, Abdali Investment and Development, the Ghiath & Nadia Sukhtian Foundation, and a roster of AFID prize sponsors. Distribution is conducted through physical screening venues (TAJ Cinemas, Rainbow Cinema سينما الرينبو, Royal Film Commission-Jordan) plus online ticketing. The organization is led by co-founders Princess Rym Ali (President) and Nada Doumani (Festival Director), supported by a small core team of 8 with program heads across Arab narratives, documentaries, non-Arab competition, and AFID.

Name

Amman International Film Festival - Awal Film

Legal name

Amman International Film Festival - Awal Film

Website

https://aiff.jo

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Amman International Film Festival - Awal Film (AIFF) is a Jordanian non-profit founded in 2020 that runs an annual debut-focused film festival in Amman, serving Arab and international filmmakers, industry professionals, and Jordanian audiences through competitive screenings, the Black Iris Award, and the Amman Film Industry Days (AFID).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Festival & Cultural Events

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)

akta.pro primary industry

Film Festivals & Festival Organizers (MPADAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community & Cultural Screenings (Museums, Cultural Centers) (MPADAKAH)

Keywords

• Film festival curation
• Debut film showcase
• Film industry events
• Arab cinema programming
• Filmmaker pitching platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

Amman

HQ country

Jordan

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: The festival sells tickets for film screenings through its booking platform at booking.aiff.jo. Tickets are available at modest prices to provide cinematic culture to all segments of society. Screenings are held at main venues including TAJ Cinemas, Rainbow Cinema, and the Royal Film Commission - Jordan.
2. Accreditation Registration: Professional filmmakers and industry professionals can register for accreditation through the festival's accreditation system, providing access to industry events, masterclasses, workshops, and networking opportunities during the festival.
3. Sponsorships and Partnerships: The festival receives support from partners including Jordan Tourism Board, Royal Jordanian, Zain Jordan, Royal Film Commission - Jordan, and other corporate and institutional sponsors. These partnerships provide both financial and in-kind support for festival operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Amman International Film Festival - Awal Film (AIFF) is an annual cultural event founded in 2020 that screens competitive debut films from around the world with a focus on Arab cinema across four sections (Arab Feature Narrative, Arab Feature Documentary, Arab Short Film, and Non-Arab Feature). The festival awards the Black Iris Award and is paired with Amman Film Industry Days (AFID), a professional industry program offering pitching platforms, masterclasses, the Amman Film Market, and the Jordanian Short Film Incubator. The organization sells modestly priced tickets to general audiences and accreditations to industry professionals, supported by sponsorships from Jordanian governmental and corporate partners.

Product overview

The Amman International Film Festival - Awal Film (AIFF) is a film festival organization focused on debut achievements in film from around the world with emphasis on Arab cinema. The core product consists of the annual festival featuring four competitive sections (Arab Feature Narrative, Arab Feature Documentary, Arab Short Film, and Non-Arab Feature Film) awarding the Black Iris Award. The portfolio includes Amman Film Industry Days (AFID) as the professional industry arm, which encompasses three pitching platforms, the Amman Film Market, The Spark Series for web series, and the Jordanian Short Film Incubator. Non-competitive programming includes the First & Latest section featuring acclaimed filmmakers. The festival also produces annual catalogues and operates jury programs including FIPRESCI and audience awards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Amman Film Industry Days (AFID): The industrial/professional arm of the festival that includes masterclasses, workshops, panels, pitching platforms, and the Amman Film Market for filmmakers

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Jordan Tourism BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment tourism body providing support for the festival as part of Jordan's cultural and tourism promotion strategy. Listed as a key supporting partner enabling the festival's operations.
• The Royal Film Commission – JordancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJordan's official film commission providing venue space (screening venue), industry program support, and festival jury awards. Co-organizer of the Jordanian Short Film Incubator program.
• Zain JordanmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor telecommunications company and longstanding festival partner providing sponsorship support for festival operations.
• Royal JordanianmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJordan's national airline providing support as a key festival partner, facilitating travel for international guests and jury members.
• Ministry of Culture (Jordan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry providing institutional support and backing for the cultural festival as part of Jordan's arts and culture promotion.
• Abdali Investment and DevelopmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReal estate development company providing venue space at Abdali Boulevard for outdoor public screenings and festival activities.
• Ghiath & Nadia Sukhtian FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate foundation providing financial support including awards for Jordanian projects in development, such as the cash prize for Jordanian Awal Film project in development.
• Greater Amman MunicipalitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal government providing institutional support and backing for the cultural festival hosted in Amman.
• CozmosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsumer electronics retail chain providing sponsorship and support for festival activities.
• FromSodasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative agency that designed the official artwork and poster for the 7th edition (2026), creating visual identity under the theme 'Beyond the Frame'.
• TAJ CinemascoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor cinema chain in Jordan serving as one of the primary screening venues for the festival's film program.
• Institut Français – JordansupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench cultural institute providing support for the festival and facilitating international exchange through partnerships with French film institutions.
• SlatesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction services company providing a $30,000 production services prize for a Jordanian film in development at the AFID pitching platform.
• DTS (Dolby Technology Sciences)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAudio technology company providing a $20,000 sound design prize for Jordanian films at the AFID industry program.
• Unison StudiosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAudio post-production studio providing sound design and mixing services worth $15,000 for post-production stage projects.
• IEFTA (International Emerging Film Festival Association)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational film association providing a $6,500 cash prize for a project in development at the AFID pitching platform.
• Creative Media SolutionssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedia services company providing visual identity services and DCP services worth $7,000 for post-production stage projects.
• Film Lab PalestinesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilm laboratory providing color correction services worth $15,000 for projects in development.
• Swish Audio HousesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAudio production company providing sound design, mixing, musical composition, and DCP services totaling over $70,000 in prizes for projects.
• Rum PicturessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPost-production facility providing film coloring, visual effects, and DCP services worth $39,000 for post-production stage projects.
• Arab Radio and Television Network (ART)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerArab media network providing a $10,000 cash prize for a project in development through the Amman Film Market.
• Cinevida Media GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedia production company providing consultancy services for artistic direction worth $15,000 for projects in pre-production.
• French InstitutesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural institute facilitating the 'Date with Arab Cinema in France' prize enabling Jordanian filmmakers to attend the Noisy-le-Sec Festival 2024.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Locarno Film Festival: Established European festival with a strong tradition of discovering new auteurs and running an industry platform (Open Doors) for emerging regions. Comparable as a broader incumbent that supports the same debut-filmmaker mission at greater scale and resources.
• International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR): Major international festival with explicit focus on emerging talent, debuts, and cinema from developing regions, including dedicated industry and talent development programs (IFFR Pro, Rotterdam Lab). Comparable in supporting debut filmmakers and connecting them to industry.

Direct peers

• Marrakech International Film Festival: Major annual film festival in Morocco showcasing international and Arab cinema with a strong industry component. Comparable in regional positioning, mix of competitive and gala programming, and pursuit of high-profile patrons and sponsors.
• Sundance Film Festival: The most prominent global festival dedicated to debut and independent filmmaking, with a robust industry lab and market. AIFF explicitly mirrors this debut-focused model for the Arab world, making it the closest conceptual peer despite geographic and scale differences.
• Cairo International Film Festival: One of the oldest and most established film festivals in the Arab world, also based in a regional capital and programming a mix of Arab and international cinema. Highly comparable to AIFF as a flagship regional festival competing for Arab films, audiences, and sponsors.
• El Gouna Film Festival: Egyptian regional festival with an industry-focused platform (CineGouna) and competitive sections for Arab cinema. Comparable in targeting Arab filmmakers, offering pitching and post-production support, and competing for the same sponsor base.
• Journées Cinématographiques de Carthage (JCC): Long-running African and Arab film festival in Tunisia focused on cinema from the Arab world and Africa. Comparable in mission to elevate regional cinema, and competes for debut Arab and African filmmakers and international visibility.
• Red Sea International Film Festival: Newer Saudi-based international film festival with an industry market and significant prize purse, directly competing with AIFF for Arab debut films, regional sponsorship, and industry talent. Closest regional rival in terms of ambition and industry programming.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aiffjo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@AIFFJO
• Facebookfacebook.com/AIFFJO
• Instagraminstagram.com/aiffjo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/amman-international-film-festival-awal-film

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Amman International Film Festival - Awal Film