More than 200 films submitted to Ammar Int'l Film Festival

The 15th edition of the Ammar Popular Film Festival has received a remarkable response from filmmakers across the world, with more than 200 films submitted to the international section.

The submissions span multiple categories, including documentaries, animations, virtual pages, and clips.

According to Fatemeh Ebrahimi, a member of the Policy Council for the festival's international section, a total of 293 works have been submitted. The entries come from several countries, including Turkey, Palestine, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Tunisia, with the majority of the films hailing from Palestine. Submissions from Turkey primarily consist of works created by Palestinians residing in the country.

Highlighting the thematic focus of the festival, Ebrahimi emphasized that the core of the international section revolves around anti-colonialism and support for resistance movements. “Supporting popular and student movements, such as the protests of American students against Zionists, or global anti-colonial actions — especially those targeting America and Israel — are among the themes of this section of the festival,” she stated.

Regarding the screening process, the official in charge of recruitment and follow-up in the international section noted that most of the submitted works had already been showcased at other film festivals or on their own platforms. The exception, she said, were a few works from Lebanese directors that have yet to be screened due to the ongoing war.

Ebrahimi also highlighted the strong artistic ties with countries such as Iraq and Lebanon, stating that filmmakers from these regions actively participate in the festival. However, attracting works from regions such as North Africa, Europe, and America poses significant challenges.

She cited a specific case involving a director based in London, who had previously collaborated with the festival. The director, despite having a completed film, declined to participate in this year's event due to security concerns. The director feared that her participation might endanger her or her family's safety.

The Ammar Popular Film Festival is known for its focus on grassroots and resistance-driven narratives, with particular attention to films that challenge colonialism and imperialism. The festival has grown in prominence in recent years, drawing submissions from filmmakers worldwide, especially from countries grappling with social and political struggles.

The international section of the festival continues to position itself as a platform for cinematic voices of resistance, highlighting stories often overlooked by mainstream film circuits.