Initiatives

Origins

Founded by Hazim Bitar in 2002, the Amman Filmmakers Cooperative began as a social network for cinema enthusiasts in Jordan. By 2003, it expanded its operations to become a free filmmaking school offering workshops in screenwriting, directing, editing, and low-budget production to aspiring filmmakers — particularly in disadvantaged areas of Jordan and Palestinian refugee camps.

Mission

The AFC's mission is to promote independent Jordanian and Palestinian Diaspora filmmaking through training, experimentation, production, distribution, and networking. It empowers student filmmakers to produce films using minimal resources and digital tools, proving that great cinema doesn't require great budgets.

Impact

The Cooperative has been described as an "active experiment in filmmaking by ordinary people." Its graduates boast the highest film festival selection rates in the history of Jordanian cinema, with works screened at Clermont-Ferrand, Locarno, and Dubai International Film Festival.

• Over 50 zero or micro-budget short films produced
• Hundreds of filmmakers trained across Jordan and Palestinian refugee camps at no cost
• Films selected for Academy-certified festivals worldwide
• Notable productions: Uncivil Liberties, Jerusalem's High Cost of Living, The View, Into The Belly of The Whale, Teaching Heyam, and Fish Above Sea Level
• Launched "Hope Films" (2007) in partnership with the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) — workshops in Palestinian refugee camps and underserved Jordanian communities.

Origins

Established by Hazim Bitar in 2004, the Jordan Short Film Festival (JSFF) began as a short film cinema week showcasing films produced by the Amman Filmmakers Cooperative and other independent Jordanian and Palestinian filmmakers. It quickly grew into Jordan's only competitive, nationally managed short film festival.

Mission

The JSFF provides a platform for independent filmmakers in Jordan and the Arab world to showcase their work and connect with international cinema.

Competitions

• International Short Film Competition — Open to filmmakers worldwide
• Arab Short Film Competition — Dedicated to Arab filmmakers
• Mobile Phone Film Competition — Embracing new technology and accessibility
• All.Films.Look.Alike — Amateur filmmakers competition

Activities

Beyond the annual festival, the JSFF conducts year-round periodic screenings across Jordan. It has partnered with some of the most prestigious institutions in international cinema:

• Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival (France)
• French Cultural Center in Jordan
• Spanish Agency for Cultural Cooperation
• Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC)
• Shoman Foundation