Amira Film Director Halted Screening in Jordan, Not the Jordanian Authorities

Misbar investigated the circulated claim and found it misleading. The director of the film, Mohamed Diab, decided to suspend the screening of the film until the families of Palestinian prisoners have watched it themselves. He also released a statement saying that he and everyone involved in making the film care first and foremost about not hurting the feelings of Palestinian prisoners’ families. Mr. Diab also urged the prisoners and their families to form a special committee to watch the film and give their opinion before screening the film in Jordan. Mr. Diab concluded that the film does not hurt the prisoners or the Palestinian cause in any way.

Misbar also contacted the director of the Jordan Media Authority, Mr. Tareq Abu al-Ragheb, who said that the authority did not ban the film in Jordanian cinemas and was not even viewed by the authority itself until this moment.

The circulated news comes against the background of the Jordanian Royal Film Commission’s nomination of the film, Amira, to represent Jordan in the 2022 Oscars. Misbar was informed that it is withdrawing the film from the Oscars 2022 nominations. The Royal Film Commission also stated on its official page on the issue.

Photo Description: The screenshot shows the statement released by the Jordanian Royal Film Commission on the film.

Amira is a 2019 feature film directed by Mohamed Diab. It had its world premiere at the 78th Venice International Film Festival. The film was shown at the opening of the Karama Human Rights Film Festival in Jordan at the Royal Cultural Center’s theater on Tuesday evening of Dec 7. The screening prompted a backlash from a wide segment of the community, leading the Palestine Parliamentary Committee to criticize the film.

Translated by Ahmed N. A. Almassri