Jordanian Cinema, Deeply Rooted in Local Realities, Is Resonating on the International Stage

Jun 16, 2026 10:49pm PT Jordanian Cinema, Deeply Rooted in Local Realities, Is Resonating on the International Stage Screening at the Shanghai Film Festival, ‘Boomah’ and ‘Sink’ are the latest Jordanian works to present the uncompromising visions of filmmakers eager to tell universal stories through a cinematic language that can travel Ed Meza @edmezavar Latest Extraordinary Sites, Highly Skilled Local Crews and Filmmaking Community Make Jordan Ideal Location 2 days ago Jordan’s Beefed Up Incentives, Studio Partnership With U. Group Shadowbox Set to Scale Up International Productions 2 days ago Jordan Is Celebrating Two Films in Shanghai and Expanding Ties With China While Reestablishing Ancient Cultural Links 2 days ago See All 'Boomah' world premieres at the Shanghai Film Festival. Courtesy of Front Row Characterized , Jordanian cinema is reaching new global markets and impressing ever more international audiences. The Shanghai Film Festival’s selection this year of two Jordanian films, Zaid Abu Hamdan’s crime thriller “Boomah” and Zain Duraie’s family drama “Sink,” illustrates the growing international interest in Jordanian works while at the same time offering filmmakers a springboard into increasingly important Asian markets. Clive Owen Teases Film With ‘The Tribe’ Director Myroslav Slaboshpytskyi, Promises ‘Sensitivity’ to Series on JonBenét Ramsey: ‘People Treat It Like a Murder Mystery’ Helen Mirren Speaks Out on Israel After Being Called an ‘Evil Zionist Bitch’ in Verbal Attack: ‘How Could You Repeat the Actions of What Was Done to You?’ World premiering in Shanghai’s Asian New Talent competition, “Boomah” is set in a marginalized community plagued . Rakeen Saad stars as a knife-wielding female gang member who becomes embroiled in a power struggle between rival groups while battling the trauma of her own past. Popular on Variety The film is produced ’s Amman-based Bounce Productions. ‘Sink’ Courtesy of Tabi360 “Sink,” which premiered in Toronto last year, follows a desperate mother struggling with her teenage son’s mental illness, a subject rarely discussed in the Arab world. It signals a growing curiosity about stories coming from our region and a willingness from Asian audiences and industry professionals to engage with them.” In addition to “Boomah,” Moroccan filmmaker Yassine El Idrissi’s “Halima” is competing in the Golden Goblet Main Competition, while the festival is marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Egypt through a dedicated Egyptian Film Week celebrating both the legacy of Youssef Chahine and contemporary Egyptian cinema. Further reflecting the growing engagement between Arab and Asian cinema at an institutional level is the presence of renowned Tunisian producer Dora Bouchoucha on the Golden Goblet jury, Chakra notes. “We’ve already seen examples of Arab films finding genuine resonance in Asia.