Karama Jordan 16th Edition: The Rights Bank
Karama Human Rights Film Festival – Jordan successfully held its 16th edition from 9 to 14 December 2025, organized by Ma3mal 612 Think Factory, under the theme “The Rights Bank.”
This edition focused on freedom of expression through the image and the role of cinema in strengthening democratic values and human rights, while maintaining the festival’s philosophical core concept of Karama (dignity). The theme emphasized human rights as a “reserve bank” safeguarding societies against disasters, violations, and systemic abuses at all levels.
The Karama Festival opened with the screening of “Hind Under Siege” by director Naji Salameh, in tribute to the story of the child Hind, in a deeply moving moment that honored her testimony as a real document of one of the most painful incidents. The opening was attended by members of the Palestinian Red Crescent team from Ramallah, who were direct witnesses to Hind’s tragic killing, alongside the film’s cast and crew. Their presence added a profound human dimension to the screening and conveyed a powerful message of solidarity.
The festival screened 67 documentaries, fiction, and short films at the Royal Cultural Center in Amman, alongside a rich program of parallel activities aimed at expanding partnerships and building new relationships with cultural and human rights institutions. Key collaborations included the European Endowment for democracy (EED), the Joud institution for culture, and the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) and Free Press Unlimited. Actor Munther Al-Rayahneh was honored as a special guest and served on the jury, contributing to attracting young audiences and broadening the festival’s reach.
A major highlight was the intellectual symposium titled “Democracy of the Image: Towards a New Manifesto,” which explored the role of visual storytelling in defending human rights and shaping a contemporary democratic visual discourse.
The festival also hosted the annual meeting of the ANHAR – Arab Network for Human Rights Films, bringing together network members in person and online. New partners were welcomed to strengthen the network, including Al-Kasaba Cinematheque (Ramallah), Mountain Cinema Festival (Tunisia–Algeria), and Karama Syria. Several human rights filmmakers were invited to engage with the network’s activities and projects, among them Palestinian director Sawsan Qaoud and Tunisian actor Mohamed Mourad.
Despite challenges related to cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and limited local funding, all preparations were completed successfully. The festival proceeded as planned, screening more than 30 films at Cinema Rainbow over five consecutive days. The event concluded with an official closing ceremony at the same venue, during which awards were presented, achieving its artistic, cultural, and human rights objectives.
Major Awards:
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ANHAR Award for Best Human Rights Film: Khartoum (Sudan)
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OMCT (World Organisation Against Torture) Award:
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Gaza Grad by Sawsan Qaoud
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Palestinian on the Road by Ismail Shabah (Palestine)
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