AMMAN - The European Union National Institute for Culture (EUNIC) will sign an agreement with the government Saturday launching an initiative to form an EUNIC cluster in the Kingdom, the European Union Delegation in Amman announced Tuesday.
Through the initiative, EUNIC, which includes the British Council, Instituto Cervantes, the Goethe Institute, and the French Cultural Centre, will "commit to developing common cultural projects and activities in Jordan", Irene Mingasson, charge d'affaires of the EU Delegation said at a press conference held yesterday at the Royal Film Commission (RFC).
Saturday will also mark the beginning of the 22nd annual European Film Festival, Mingasson said.
The festival, held under the patronage of HRH Princess Rym Ali, will feature 16 recent European films chosen by the embassies of their respective countries in Jordan, which will be screened at the RFC and the Hussein Cultural Centre.
The award-winning Belgian film "Khadak" will launch the festival on Saturday, and the event will conclude on October 2 with the Polish film "Killer".
Mingasson said that the festival "provides a window that enables both sides [Jordanians and Europeans] to look into the way of life of the other in a fun way".
She explained that unlike last year, the films in this year's festival do not share a common theme but are "purposely left to speak for themselves" and to communicate with the Jordanian audience.
Mingasson also added that the European Film Festival, in cooperation with the Karama Human Rights Film Festival, held a film competition for young Jordanians "to showcase their art and share their views with the EU community". The winners of this competition will be announced at the festival's opening ceremony on Saturday.
The 22nd festival will also feature various side events run in different venues in Amman and Zarqa, this year's capital of Jordanian culture. These include storytelling at Books@Cafe on Rainbow Street in celebration of the European day of languages on September 26, a photography day in Zarqa on September 27, and a joint dance performance by the Jordanian Zakharef in Motion and French Accrorap troupes downtown on September 29.
The Delegation of the European Union in Amman is organising this year's festival in cooperation with several local partners, including the RFC, the Greater Amman Municipality, and Zarqa Municipality, as well as EU member states' embassies and cultural centres.
By Rand Dalgamouni
© Jordan Times 2010
